MADRID: Robert Lewandowski left his mark with a pair of goals on his 34th birthday, and Barcelona saw its high-profile attack finally click in a 4-1 win at Real Sociedad for its first victory of the season on Sunday.
Lewandowski also set up Ansu Fati’s goal as Barcelona quickly rebounded from a scoreless opening draw at home in the Spanish league against Rayo Vallecano in which the attack was ineffective.
Ousmane Dembélé also scored for the Catalan club that entered the season amid high expectations after spending big to boost its squad despite enduring financial difficulties.
Lewandowski scored his first goal of the season a minute into the match with a nice touch from inside the area after a pass by teenager Alejandro Balde.
The hosts equalized with a goal from Alexander Isak in the sixth minute after a nice through ball by veteran David Silva, but Barcelona’s forward stood out in the second half. Dembélé scored with a low shot in the 66th after a backheel pass by Fati, who found the net himself in the 79th after Lewandowski’s assist. Lewandowski’s second goal came from close range in the 68th after another assist by Fati.
The result kept Barcelona unbeaten against Sociedad in 13 league matches, with two draws and 11 victories.
Sociedad had opened with a win at Cádiz.
Lewandowski’s birthday double leads Barça to 1st league win
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Lewandowski’s birthday double leads Barça to 1st league win
Gakpo double helps Liverpool thrash struggling Ipswich
By contrast, Ipswich are finding the step up to the Premier League a bridge too far after back-to-back promotions
LIVERPOOL: Cody Gakpo scored twice as Liverpool took another step toward the Premier League title with a 4-1 demolition of Ipswich at Anfield on Saturday.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah were also on target in a dominant performance from the Reds, who remain six points clear of Arsenal having played a game less.
Just a second league title in 35 years and a 20th overall to match Manchester United’s English record now seems just a matter of time in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
The Dutchman was able to make five changes from Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Lille that also secured direct passage to the last 16 of the Champions League in a sparkling season for the six-time European champions.
By contrast, Ipswich are finding the step up to the Premier League a bridge too far after back-to-back promotions.
Kieran McKenna’s men were thrashed 6-0 at home by Manchester City last weekend and could easily have suffered the same margin or more on their first trip to Anfield since 2002.
Slot has been keen for Szoboszlai to up his scoring contribution from midfield and the Hungarian led the way with a fine low strike for his fourth goal of the campaign after just 11 minutes.
Salah had been made to wait to usurp Thierry Henry as the Premier League’s seventh highest goalscorer of all time after blanking away at Nottingham Forest and Brentford.
The Egyptian made sure normal service was resumed by firing in high from Gakpo’s cross for his 176th Premier League goal and 19th of the season to move two clear of Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak in the race for the golden boot.
Szoboszlai’s forward runs were a constant threat for the Ipswich defense and the source of the third goal as Gakpo turned home the rebound after Christian Walton saved the midfielder’s initial effort.
Liverpool unsurprisingly eased off in the second half amid a gruelling schedule as they remain in the hunt for four competitions.
Gakpo headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s inviting cross for his 14th goal of the season.
Ipswich did at least get a consolation in the final minute when Jacob Greaves headed in from Julio Enciso’s corner.
However, the real test of their survival hopes comes next weekend when bottom-of-the-table Southampton visit Portman Road in a must-win clash for the Tractor Boys.
Ipswich remain in the relegation zone but only on goal difference behind Wolves, who blew a man advantage for half an hour of their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.
Monday match against Al-Hilal is ‘difficult,’ says Al-Qadsiah’s coach Gonzalez
- ‘We’ve played 19 matches in the league and the cup without fear, and we will continue in the same way,’ the Spaniard told a news conference
- ‘Al-Hilal are an offensive team with a high-scoring record’
AL KHUBAR: Al-Qadsiah and Al-Hilal will face off on Monday in the 17th round of the Saudi Roshn League in what Al-Qadsiah’s Spanish coach Michel Gonzalez described as a “difficult” match on Saturday.
Addressing a news conference ahead of the match that takes place at Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, Gonzalez said: “I’m old enough that there’s nothing I fear anymore. I’ve lived my whole life without fear, but I respect everyone.
“My lack of fear doesn’t mean I don’t respect the opponent. We are here to compete with the other teams. However, the only thing I fear is when my wife looks at me.”
From the Spaniard’s perspective, in sports, “fear has no impact.”
“We’ve played 19 matches in the league and the cup without fear, and we will continue in the same way. That’s our goal. However, we greatly respect the opponent, and we approach the match with significance but without any fear,” he told the conference.
The Spanish coach stressed that they will play a match against the champion, “Al-Hilal, a team known and distinguished by its players and coach.”
“Our opponent possesses both individual and collective abilities that enable them to play at the highest levels in any league in the world,” Gonzalez said.
Currently, Al-Qadsiah are in their best form, and they will deliver a great performance in Monday’s match that allows them to secure the three points, the coach said.
He emphasized that Al-Qadsiah play as a team and respects all opponents, emphasizing: “Al-Hilal are an offensive team with a high-scoring record. However, we have excellent defensive players. Statistically, we are also distinguished defensively, while Al-Hilal excel offensively.
“We are aware that our opponent will miss their Serbian striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic, who scores even with half-chances. Personally, I wished all players on both teams were fully ready and without absences.”
The Brazilian substitute, Marcos Leonardo, according to Gonzalez, is a remarkable striker with great abilities, and his scoring record speaks for itself.
Frankfurt sign French striker Elye Wahi until 2030
- “I’m very happy to have signed for Eintracht Frankfurt,” Wahi said
- “I hope the supporters of the club have faith in me and that I will repay them”
FRANKFURT: Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt have signed French striker Elye Wahi on a long-term deal until 2030.
Frankfurt posted a photo on X of the 22-year-old Wahi putting pen to paper on Friday evening.
“I’m very happy to have signed for Eintracht Frankfurt,” Wahi said in French. “I hope the supporters of the club have faith in me and that I will repay them.”
No transfer fee was given but French website L’Equipe reported that Frankfurt paid 26 million euros ($27.3 million) for Wahi with an additional 3 million euros in bonuses and a 12 percent share of any future sell-on profit.
It is the third significant career move in two years for Wahi, who joined Lens from Montpellier in 2023 for a fee of 35 million euros ($38 million), turning down Premier League side Chelsea.
Despite a bright start at Lens he failed to settle and, after scoring 12 goals in 36 games, he joined Marseille this season for 25 million euros. But he scored only three league goals for the club and struggled for consistency.
Wahi made a strong impression with Montpellier in the 2022-23 season, scoring 19 league goals and impressing with his speed and skill.
Frankfurt have sold two forward for big profits, with Randal Kolo Muani joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 in a deal worth 95 million euros and Egypt forward Omar Marmoush joining Premier League champion Manchester City on Thursday for a reported 70 million euros ($73 million).
Flick demands Barca focus more after Liga slump
- “I think you can have a feeling that in La Liga we’re missing 5-10 percent,” Flick told a news conference
- “It’s like we’re not playing well, we’re not focussed and this is what we have to do”
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick called on his team to show more concentration in La Liga on Saturday after a dismal run of domestic form.
While the Catalan giants are flying high in the Champions League, second in the group with direct qualification to the last 16 already secured, domestically they have dropped behind their title rivals.
Barcelona have won just one of their last eight league games and trail league leaders and reigning champions Real Madrid by seven points.
The Blaugrana, third, are also five points behind Atletico Madrid going into this weekend’s round of fixtures.
“I think you can have a feeling that in La Liga we’re missing 5-10 percent, it’s like that and this is what we have to change,” Flick told a news conference ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Valencia.
Last weekend Barcelona could only muster a 1-1 draw against Getafe, 16th.
“I think in Getafe it was our fault we didn’t end this match with three points — it has nothing to do with Getafe,” continued Flick.
“It’s like we’re not playing well, we’re not focussed and this is what we have to do.
“We have to be focussed from the beginning to the end of the match and this is what I want from the team.”
Valencia, 19th, are playing well under new coach Carlos Corberan and are hoping to fight their way up the table.
“They stabilized their defense and they really know how to play football,” said Flick.
“Their defense is doing really well and we have to create chances and score goals — it’s not so easy.”
Atletico Madrid host Villarreal while Real Madrid visit Valladolid, both on Saturday.
‘Best honeymoon ever’: Keys hails reluctant husband-coach after Slam win
- “I feel like this is the best honeymoon ever. This is perfect,” a beaming Keys said
- “I have the most supportive, best husband in the entire world, who didn’t even want to coach me”
MELBOURNE: Madison Keys paid tribute to her coach and new husband Bjorn Fratangelo saying it “was the best honeymoon ever” after winning her first Grand Slam title on Saturday aged 29 — and then revealed he did not even want the job.
The American battled injury and self-doubts last year and curtailed her season early, in October, to get married.
“I feel like this is the best honeymoon ever. This is perfect,” a beaming Keys said.
The former teen prodigy, who first won a WTA match at 14, has now finally got her hands on a major after beating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 in the Australian Open final.
“I have the most supportive, best husband in the entire world, who didn’t even want to coach me,” Keys said on Channel Nine TV straight after lifting the trophy.
“And I was like, please, please come with me.
“So it took some arm-twisting, and he has just been the most supportive, and he’s fully believed in me every step of the way.”
Keys is the fourth-oldest first-time winner of a major since the Open Era began in 1968.
She overcame fierce three-set challenges from both the two top seeds, Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, in the semifinal and final.
“I have absolutely the greatest team,” Keys said.
“They have really believed in me in the moments that I didn’t believe in myself.
“They helped me completely rebuild after some pretty gnarly injuries last year.
“And if it wasn’t for those three people who have been cheering me on all week through all of the three-set matches, I wouldn’t be here.”
Keys is on a tour-leading 12-match unbeaten streak after lifting the Adelaide International trophy two weeks ago and will move up to world number seven, equalling her career-best ranking from 2016.
“I think dealing with some of the injuries that I dealt with last year really kind of forced me into some changes.
“It made me kind of have to stop being stubborn and listen to my husband.
“It pushed me to get a little bit uncomfortable and be okay with that. And I feel like buying into that just set me up to start playing some really good tennis.”
