The strangest aspect of Barcelona’s 3-0 defeat to Roma on Tuesday was how predictable it seems in retrospect.
Nobody — or at least no more than a tiny handful of people — can be said to have seen it coming, and yet all the warning signs were there, not merely in Roma’s excellence at home in European competition this season but in Barcelona’s laxity. Everything that was said after their 4-0 defeat to Paris St.Germain last season remains true, and the symptoms were readily apparent in their last-16 victory over Chelsea.
Look at that first Roma goal. Daniele De Rossi had the ball in the center of the pitch. He looked up. He had time to see the run of Edin Dzeko, time to measure his pass. Between De Rossi and the area into which he floated the ball were two slightly rickety lines of four. In the distance, behind him, walking back, was Lionel Messi. A little closer, in a half-jog, was Luis Suarez. Nobody was putting pressure on De Rossi. The pass was still difficult, but it was made far easier by the fact that, in the early stages of a Champions League quarterfinal second leg, he was given the time and space to measure it.
Messi is 30 now and in the 14th season of his professional career. If he is unable quite to summon the energy of old, it is perhaps not a huge surprise. He remains an extraordinary player, but a key part of that now is that the minimalism that has always characterised his genius now extends to his movement.
Watch him from the start of a game and he ambles about, spending the first five or ten minutes assessing the opposition, looking for their weaknesses. That is why his third-minute goal in the last 16 against Chelsea was the second earliest he has ever scored in a game. In his entire career for club and country he has only scored nine non-penalty goals in the first five minutes of matches.
Messi, of course, has to be accommodated. There is no point asking him to be something different. He is what he is, and that is undeniably beneficial. He remains generally team-focused, but the days when Pep Guardiola encouraged him not merely to be the best in the world with the ball but the best without it feel a long time ago. But that does make additional demands on those around him. If Messi is to play like he does, the other nine outfielders must take on additional responsibility. Suarez is now 31 and, on the evidence of Tuesday, either no longer has the energy or inclination to be Messi’s foil.
The 4-4-2 Ernesto Valverde seems to prefer is, presumably, designed to provide a platform that does not demand a huge workload from Messi. Two banks of four, if compact, is a solid base. But the problem for Barca is that they never seem particularly compact. In the Chelsea game, Willian in particular rampaged through the midfield. Sergio Busquets, such an undervalued part of Barca’s great sides, was repeatedly isolated in the center, a particular issue given his lack of pace is even more pronounced these days.
The question then, is how Barca, with such obvious flaws, can be 11 points clear at the top of the Spanish table, unbeaten in 38 league games. To suggest that the level in la Liga is not high enough feels inadequate as an explanation given the success of Spanish sides in European competition. The answer, perhaps, is that the nature of the threat they face in Spain is different, that the football is slower and more technical than the challenges posed by the likes of Chelsea and Roma. Their aura, perhaps, means domestically that opponents subconsciously accept a narrow defeat as the best possible outcome, whereas in knockout competition everything is focused on the short-term and sides are more willing to accept the risk of a heavy defeat if it increases the possibility of victory.
But whatever the reason, three Champions League quarterfinal defeats in a row tells their own story. In the past two seasons particularly, Barca have looked too slow and too disorganized to prosper in European competition, cracks over which even Messi’s brilliance cannot paper.
Not even Lionel Messi magic can hide fact Barcelona are brittle
Not even Lionel Messi magic can hide fact Barcelona are brittle
- Barcelona on course for record-breaking season at home, once again falter in Europe
- Catalan club not as young or incisive as they once were
Ex-Tottenham player Bentaleb back training with Lille after cardiac arrest
- Coach of the Ligue 1 side, Bruno Genesio, said Bentaleb resumed individual training a few days ago
- Bentaleb collapsed on June 18 while playing a five-a-side match with friends, French media reported at the time
LILLE: Nabil Bentaleb, the former Tottenham and Algeria midfielder who suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest less than seven months ago, is back training with his club Lille.
Coach of the Ligue 1 side, Bruno Genesio, said Bentaleb resumed individual training a few days ago with a physical trainer and started practicing with the ball on Monday.
“I’ve seen him, and spoken to him for the past two or three days. He’s in good spirits, he’s motivated,” Genesio said.
Bentaleb collapsed on June 18 while playing a five-a-side match with friends, French media reported at the time. At Lille University Hospital, he was put into an artificial coma before being fitted with a pacemaker-defibrillator days later.
The 30-year-old Bentaleb is hopeful he will be able to resume his career, following in the footsteps of Christian Eriksen. The Danish playmaker, who collapsed because of cardiac arrest during a European Championship game in June 2021 and had a type of pacemaker fitted, has made a full recovery and plays in the Premier League with Manchester United.
Bentaleb joined Lille in 2023, returning to the club where he honed his skills as a youngster. He was born in the northern French city and trained at the club academy after his talent was spotted when he was just 10 years old.
After being released, he started his senior career in the Premier League with Tottenham, where he made more than 60 appearances, then joined German side Schalke. Bentaleb also played for Newcastle and Angers.
Court rules German football clubs must pay police costs at ‘high-risk’ matches
- On Tuesday the Karlsruhe-based court dismissed the DFL’s claim that the practice was unconstitutional
- While the ruling only applies to Bremen, one of Germany’s 16 federal states, the decision is likely to have wide-ranging impacts
BERLIN: Bundesliga clubs across Germany may be forced to cover the costs of police at certain ‘high-risk’ games, after a German court upheld a ruling in the city state of Bremen.
The federal constitutional court on Tuesday dismissed an appeal by the German Football Leagues (DFL) against the practice of asking clubs to pay additional police costs in ‘high risk’ games.
In 2015, the government in the state of Bremen handed club Werder Bremen a bill of around 400,000 euros ($410,100) relating to the home derby match with neighboring Hamburg.
The DFL has waged a 10-year legal battle to have the fine overturned but suffered a series of legal defeats.
On Tuesday the Karlsruhe-based court dismissed the DFL’s claim that the practice was unconstitutional.
While the ruling only applies to Bremen, one of Germany’s 16 federal states, the decision is likely to have wide-ranging impacts, with other state governments considering following suit.
Police maintain a presence at matches in the professional leagues but around 50 games per year, usually derby fixtures or those with long-standing rivalries, are deemed higher risk.
Bremen’s regional interior minister Ulrich Maeurer welcomed the decision and revealed the state had already billed Werder Bremen around two million euros over the past decade.
Recognizing how the additional costs will cause a burden for clubs, Maeurer floated the idea of a DFL fund for police costs, an idea the governing body has rejected.
The DFL argued areas outside stadiums were the responsibility of the state and should be covered by tax revenue.
The German FA (DFB) on Tuesday said the ruling was “incorrect,” saying it made clubs “liable for security costs in public areas over which they have no control.”
Covering police costs could “threaten the existence” of smaller clubs, the DFB said, adding the ruling “does not improve fan security at all.”
Tuesday’s decision was also criticized by fan groups.
In a statement, fan organization ‘Unsere Kurve’ said it was “shocked” at the decision and said German football contributed around 1.6 billion euros per season in tax revenue.
Spokesperson Thomas Kessen said the organizers of the Oktoberfest, Cologne Carnival and Berlin’s New Years Eve celebrations should now pay police costs, “even if is doubtful whether we as a society would want this.”
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Karius signs for Schalke
- Karius has bounced around teams in England, Germany and Türkiye but has failed to secure significant game time
- "Schalke are a big club with passionate fans," Karius said
BERLIN: Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius on Tuesday signed for German second-division side Schalke, the latest in a series of clubs as he tries to revive his career.
Karius has bounced around teams in England, Germany and Türkiye but has failed to secure significant game time.
The 31-year-old was widely criticised following an error-ridden performance in Liverpool's 3-1 Champions League final loss to Real Madrid in 2018, his last match for the club.
Five days after the match, Karius was diagnosed with concussion, having collided with Real defender Sergio Ramos.
Most recently he was with Premier League club Newcastle but has been a free agent since his contract expired in July 2024.
"Schalke are a big club with passionate fans," Karius said in a statement, adding "I'm looking forward to training with the team."
Karius joins fallen giants Schalke, who are also looking for an upturn in fortunes.
One of Germany's biggest clubs with seven top-flight titles, Schalke sit just six points above the relegation play-off place in the German second division.
Having arrived in Gelsenkirchen for a medical on Friday, Karius is expected to be Schalke's back-up 'keeper behind Justin Heekeren.
Officials reinforce Japan-Saudi sports relations
Matsumoto Hisashi, Japan’s parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs, visited the Saudi Judo Federation on Monday during his visit to the Kingdom, further strengthening the relations between the two countries.
The visit highlighted the Saudi Judo Federation’s achievements and its future programs. Additionally, the Japanese official paid a visit to the Mahad Academy to attend a judo demonstration.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Matsumoto also held a meeting with Rakan bin Ibrahim Altouq, the assistant minister of culture, to further foster Japan-Saudi culture relations. He, alongside a Japanese delegation, also held talks with Saudi officials to discuss Vision 2030.
Banton, Pooran steer MI Emirates to emphatic 26-run triumph over Dubai Capitals
- Victory at Zayed Cricket Stadium was MI Emirates’ first win of the DP World ILT20 season
ABU DHABI: The MI Emirates cruised to their first win of the DP World ILT20 season against the Dubai Capitals at Zayed Cricket Stadium on Monday evening.
With half-centuries from Tom Banton and Nicholas Pooran, the MI Emirates clinched a 26-run win.
Shai Hope was the star of the match with a magnificent 101 runs in 59 balls, but it was in vain as the Dubai Capitals lost to the MI Emirates for the first time in the tournament’s history.
The course of the game turned in favor of the MI Emirates with Fazalhaq Farooqi’s over, where he picked up two wickets and conceded just three runs.
With the Capitals chasing a daunting target of 188, the MI Emirates opened their bowling with spin. Akeal Hosein was handed the new ball and the move nearly paid off in the third over.
This was when Ben Dunk skied a quicker one, but Waqar Salamkheil dropped the sitter. Hope, at the other end, did the bulk of the scoring and anchored the Capitals’ innings.
Alzarri Joseph gave the MI Emirates the breakthrough as he bowled Dunk in the sixth over, but Hope motored on at the other end and brought up his 50 in 32 deliveries.
Hope and McMullen put up 61 for the second wicket before the latter was stumped by Pooran. It was a redemption tale for Salamkheil as he finally got his man.
Hope remained unscathed and hit AM Ghazanfar for a four and six as he brought up his T20 career’s second century. This was the first century scored by a Dubai Capitals player and also the third 100 in the history of the DP World ILT20. Hope fell with the next ball.
The momentum swung the MI Emirates’ way thereafter as Farooqi dismissed Sikandar Raza with a toe-crushing yorker. Farooqi made it two in two as he crafted another brilliant yorker to get rid of Dasun Shanaka’s off-stump.
The Dubai Capitals were left to rue their chances as Zahoor Khan bowled a fantastic 19th over, giving away just one run. The Dubai Capitals needed 36 in the final over, but it proved to be too steep a hill to climb.
Earlier in the evening, the MI Emirates stuttered as Dushmantha Chameera was on the money in his very first delivery. He outfoxed Kusala Perera and dislodged his leg stump to give the Dubai Capitals an early footing in the game.
Banton joined Muhammed Waseem in the middle and the duo offered the MI Emirates much-needed stability with a key partnership of 38 runs that was littered with boundaries.
However, Raza made amends for a missed catch earlier as he found the stumps with a stunning throw from mid-off and Waseem returned to the pavilion for 18. The powerplay ended with the MI Emirates putting up 50 for two, with both teams having plenty of positive takeaways.
Banton continued to thrive on one end, bringing up his half-century in style as he swept Zahir Khan for a huge six on the leg side to wrap up the 11th over.
Coming in at number four, Pooran joined the party as he clobbered two fours and six sixes in a 29-ball endeavor that yielded 59 runs. Pooran took Olly Stone for three successive sixes in the 15th over.
The skipper began his onslaught with a perfectly timed scoop, the next was a fortunate edge that sailed over the ropes, and the third was a repeat of the first. In pursuit of a fourth consecutive maximum, he holed out to Shanaka at deep midwicket.
Stone struck again in the 18th over as he got rid of Banton, the architect of MI Emirates’ innings, for a top score of 74 runs in 52 balls.
Romario Shepherd, Kieron Pollard and Joseph made up Gulbadin Naib’s second consecutive three-wicket haul in the final over as the Capitals restricted the MI Emirates to 187 for seven.
Expressing his regret on not bringing the Capitals home, centurion Hope said: “A 100 always feels a lot sweeter when you end up on the winning side.
“Just unfortunate I could not get the team there, but we just fell short with the bat. It was a pretty good pitch, and I thought we did well to restrict them to under 200.”
Meanwhile, Player of the Match, Banton remarked: “It was tricky to begin with. We spoke pre-game that someone’s got to bat through the innings. I looked to put pressure back on the bowlers when the ball was in my area.
“I’ve played a lot of cricket here and the wickets are always good. It’s my first year here, I was with MI Cape Town last year. Someone has to put his hand up every game, and today it was me.”
Brief scores:
MI Emirates beat Dubai Capitals by 26 runs.
MI Emirates 187-7 in 20 overs (Tom Banton 74, Nicholas Pooran 59, Kieron Pollard 22, Gulbadin Naib 3 for 27).
Dubai Capitals 161-6 in 20 overs (Shai Hope 101, Brandon McMullen 16, Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 for 22).
