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Barcelona midfielder Pedri has a chance to play for the first time since last month’s leg-muscle tear when the champions host Alaves in LaLiga on Saturday, but centre back Ronald Araujo will miss the game with a stomach virus, coach Hansi Flick said.

The coach said he was happy with the way his players had reacted in training after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at Chelsea in the Champions League as Barca renew their efforts to catch up with LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, who are one point ahead.

“He (Pedri) will play some minutes, but (won’t be in the starting) lineup. If it’s possible, then he will come on in the second half. We’ll see,” Flick told reporters about Pedri.

“(Araujo) has a stomach virus, and he’s out for today and also for tomorrow.”

Flick was excited by the return of winger Raphinha, who has made two appearances as a second-half substitute after missing nearly two months with a hamstring injury, as Barcelona look to leave behind an injury crisis that plagued them till last month.

“I missed him (Raphinha). I see him as one of the most important players in our team… he also has the hunger and the will to show how good he really is,” the German said.

“I really appreciate what I see in training. We’re focused, we have a lot of quality. And of course, players coming back now, Pedri is back… Raphinha, Marcus (Rashford) from the cold he had. We nearly have everyone.”

Flick, a former Bayern Munich midfielder, also brushed aside the on-field reactions of right winger Lamine Yamal during the loss to Chelsea, after the 18-year-old looked visibly frustrated following his substitution at Stamford Bridge.

“I was also a player and maybe sometimes I did not show the right reaction. But at the end… it’s emotion,” Flick said.

“The next step for Lamine must be to show, again, it’s not about this match, forget it. Alaves is now the important thing and he has to show his best level.

“We’re all in a bad mood after the defeat against Chelsea. We were very disappointed about that… but it’s done. Now we’re looking forward, we’re looking positive for the next match to the end of this year.”

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9News Nigeria

FC Barcelona have confirmed that the team will step back onto the Camp Nou pitch on 22 November when they face Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.

The match will mark Barcelona’s first competitive outing at their iconic home in two and a half years, bringing an end to a long stay away during the massive renovation project.

Work on the stadium began in 2022 with the goal of turning the historic ground into a modern football hub. The upgrades include an increase in capacity, a new playing surface, stronger internal structures and a range of improvements designed to make matchdays smoother and more enjoyable for supporters.

Barcelona last played at the ground on 29 May 2023, when they defeated Mallorca 3-0. That game now stands as a symbolic farewell before the builders moved in and the club shifted to temporary venues.

As Barcelona prepare to reopen their doors, another major storyline is gathering pace in France, where PSG manager Luis Enrique has taken a strong interest in Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez. Swiss Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports that Enrique “holds Alvarez in high regard” and that a potential transfer is being explored. Atlético, however, are standing firm on a €120 million price tag.

Several reports in France indicate that Álvarez fits neatly into Enrique’s tactical plans and could be pushed to the top of PSG’s winter wishlist. The forward is said to be eager to work under Enrique if the clubs can reach an agreement.

Although Álvarez has attracted attention from English Premier League sides and Barcelona, he reportedly has no plans to return to England, believing he has already reached his ceiling there. He is willing to consider Paris as his next destination, though the fee remains the biggest obstacle

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9News Nigeria

If Barça officially decides to abandon the Super League project, they face a massive financial blow:

🔸 €300M penalty for breaking the founding agreement.
🔸 €4M linked to the initial loan for the project’s launch.
🔸 Total loss of their stake in Super League Company S.L. and all related rights.

Florentino Pérez is reportedly uncompromising – “There will be no forgiveness or discounts. Barça signed a contract and must face the consequences.”

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9News Nigeria

Barcelona boss, Xavi Hernandez was furious last night after the team failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in 17 years.

The Spaniard, however, vowed to win the Europa League.

Barcelona needed to match Benfica’s result in order to progress to the next stage last night but gave a limp display against Bayern Munich.

The Catalans conceded first-half goals from Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane before Jamal Musiala also fired in the second half to wrap up a 3-0 win.

This means that Barcelona will now switch to the Europa League and Xavi was fuming with his side’s passive performance against Bayern.
“We didn’t compete. I told the players that today was a new beginning, a turning point, that we couldn’t afford to be in the Europa League,” Xavi told reporters after the game.

“Barca don’t deserve this. I don’t like this reality that we’re living. I am angry because this is now our reality, and it p***es me off.

“But we have to accept it, take it on, we’ve no other option.

“We have to change many things. We have to start from zero and work very hard to get Barca back to where we belong, which is not the Europa League.”

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9News Nigeria

Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League in the group stage for the first time in over 20 years with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich on Wednesday, as Benfica, French champions Lille and Red Bull Salzburg all qualified for the last 16.

Meanwhile, Chelsea missed out on first place in their group to Juventus after conceding a late equaliser away to Zenit Saint Petersburg, while snow in northern Italy forced the postponement of Atalanta’s decisive game against Villarreal.

Barcelona started the day in second place in Group E but had to win away to Bayern Munich to be sure of going through, otherwise they risked being overtaken by Benfica.

Xavi Hernandez’s side were duly outclassed by an already-qualified Bayern who made it six wins out of six in the group, with Thomas Mueller’s 34th-minute header just crossing the line before Ronald Araujo could clear.

The game was played behind closed doors at the Allianz Arena due to coronavirus restrictions in Bavaria, but that did not handicap Bayern, with Leroy Sane’s powerful strike doubling their lead before the break and then Jamal Musiala making it 3-0 just after the hour.

– ‘A new era’ -The Catalans were knocked out as Benfica beat Dynamo Kiev 2-0 in Lisbon, first-half goals by Roman Yaremchuk and Gilberto seeing them snatch second and a place in next Monday’s draw for the last 16.

“We didn’t compete. This is the Champions League but it is our reality and we have to face up to it,” Xavi told Spanish media.

“We are starting a new era from zero. Our objective is the Champions League, not the Europa League.”

Barcelona, who scored just twice in the group stage, had appeared in the knockout rounds of the Champions League in each of the last 17 seasons, last missing out in 2003-04 when they played in the UEFA Cup after coming sixth in La Liga the previous year.

They last went out of the Champions League in the group stage in 2000/01 when a team featuring a 20-year-old Xavi finished third in their section behind AC Milan and Leeds United.

The five-time European champions will now drop into the Europa League knockout-round play-offs in February.

– Juve pip Chelsea -In contrast Lille are through to the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in 15 years after beating Wolfsburg 3-1 in Germany to top Group G.

Burak Yilmaz gave Lille an early lead and Canadian striker Jonathan David made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute before Angel Gomes got their third. Renato Steffen got a late consolation.

Salzburg, Austrian champions in each of the last eight seasons, also progressed thanks to a 1-0 win over Sevilla, with Noah Okafor scoring the only goal before the Spaniards had Joan Jordan sent off.

It is the first time Salzburg have reached the knockout phase, while Sevilla join the likes of Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League — that may suit them given they have won that trophy or its predecessor the UEFA Cup a record six times, all since 2006.

– Atalanta game postponed -Last season’s winners Chelsea had already qualified for the last 16 and were on course to top Group H as they led 3-2 away to Zenit going into injury time.

But then Magomed Ozdoev’s stunning strike earned Zenit a 3-3 draw, allowing Juventus to snatch first place as Moise Kean’s goal gave them a 1-0 win against Malmo.

Timo Werner had tapped in to put Chelsea ahead in the second minute, but Claudinho and Sardar Azmoun both scored before the break for Zenit.

Romelu Lukaku’s first goal in nearly three months made it 2-2, and Werner’s second of the night looked to have won it for Chelsea before Ozdoev struck.

“My analysis is very clear: our behaviour changes when we have a lead and this is something we never did and we should never do,” said Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, whose team twice squandered an advantage to lose 3-2 at West Ham United last weekend.

Atalanta’s game against Villarreal in Group F was postponed due to snow in Bergamo and was rescheduled for Thursday at 1800 GMT, with the Italians having to win to pip their visitors to second place in the group.

Group winners Manchester United drew 1-1 at home to Young Boys, with Mason Greenwood’s acrobatic effort putting Ralf Rangnick’s side ahead before Fabian Rieder equalised.

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9News Nigeria

Atletico Madrid have signed striker Luis Suarez from La Liga rivals Barcelona for £5.5m on a two-year deal.

Suarez, 33, had one more year to run on the contract he signed with Barcelona in 2016, but was reportedly told by new head coach Ronald Koeman last month that he was not part of his plans.

“I feel I’m capable of continuing to compete in this league,” Suarez said.

“When Barca told me they weren’t counting on me, there were many calls, many offers, but I was able to go to a team that can compete as equals with two great teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid. I had no doubts.”

Suarez departs Barcelona as their second-highest goal-scorer of all time, having scored 198 goals since signing from Liverpool in 2014.

He won La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys, the Champions League, the Club World Cup and the European Super Cup during his hugely successful time at the Nou Camp.

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9News Nigeria

English Premier League club, Wolves have completed the signing of right-back Nelson Semedo from Barcelona in a deal worth nearly £37m, including potential add-ons.

The Portuguese international, Semedo, has signed a contract that will keep him at Molineux until June 2023, with an option to extend it to June 2025.

Semedo, 26, who won two La Liga titles and the Cope del Rey following his move to Barcelona from Benfica in 2017, played 42 times for Barcelona last season.

“I chose Wolves because it’s a very good team that plays very good football,” Semedo told the club’s website.

“Last year they did a very good season and it’s a very important team in England, in also Europe. I hope this year we can do very good things,” Samedo said

Semedo could make his debut in the Premier League against West Ham on Sunday.

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Barcelona thumped Chelsea 3-0 at Camp Nou on Wednesday in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, to move into the quarter-finals.

Bayern Munich also qualified for the quarter-finals on Wednesday, after beating Besiktas 3-1, to amass an aggregate 8-1.

The Catalans who held Chelsea 1-1 in London two weeks ago, won 4-1 aggregate, with Lionel Messi scoring the first goal in the third minute.

In the 20th minute he opened the defence for Ousmane Dembele to score the second goal. In the 63rd minute, Messi had his second goal of the day.

Barcelona, champions in 2013/14 and quarter-finalists in the last two editions, were the last team to qualify for the next stage.

They will now wait till Friday to know their quarter-final opponents, after the draw by UEFA in Lyon, Switzerland.

Messi becomes only the second player to reach the milestone in Europe’s premier tournament, following Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 117 goals in 152 games.

By the end, the Argentinian’s scintillating breakaway in the build-up to Dembele’s first Barcelona goal had become little more than a footnote to what was another Messi masterclass.

The match capped a remarkable five days for the 30-year-old, who sat out Saturday’s La Liga win over Malaga to attend to the birth of his third child.

At the finish, Chelsea coach Antonio Conte left the field with his arm around the forward, perhaps with nothing to add but congratulations.

Conte’s team had chances, particularly in the first half, but the sense was once Barcelona were in front they were content to sit back and counter.

With Manchester United dumped out by Sevilla and Tottenham outmanouevred by Juventus, Chelsea’s exit means for all the talk of a Premier League resurgence, Liverpool and Manchester City are its only two representatives in the quarter-finals.

Spain have three, after Real saw off the challenge of Paris Saint-Germain.

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