LaLiga

Benzema nets sublime 7-minute hat trick in Real Madrid's 6-0 win

MADRID - Karim Benzema scored three goals in seven first-half minutes as Real Madrid thrashed Real Valladolid 6-0 on Sunday to cut Barcelona's lead in LaLiga to 12 points.

The hat trick moved Benzema up to 14 league goals this season and second on the list of top scorers — three behind Barça's Robert Lewandowski.

Rodrygo's opener from a smooth counter-attack after 22 minutes opened the flood gates as Benzema took charge at the Santiago Bernabéu, netting a first half hat-trick for Real Madrid for the first time in his career.

Are the stars aligning for a Messi return to Barcelona?

Before the 2022 World Cup, the idea of Lionel Messi extending his contract with French multi-champion PSG seemed a safe bet. Back from Qatar, however, that certainty has started to crumble and the leading narrative around the player's future is pointing to a sensational return to Barcelona. 

Is Messi returning to Barcelona?

Of course, there are a lot of rumors going around, but the blaugranas fans are feeling optimistic after the club's vice-president Rafa Yuste and coach Xavi spoke on Friday about how much they wish for Messi's return to the team. 

Mesut Özil announces his retirement at 34 years old

Germany's World Cup-winning midfielder Mesut Özil announced his retirement from football at the age of 34 on Wednesday.

The former Real Madrid and Arsenal player was a key member of Germany's World Cup-winning side in Brazil in 2014.

He retired from the squad in 2018 amid a political debate in Germany about an influx of migrants and after backlash over a photograph taken with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, saying he faced "racism and disrespect" over his Turkish ancestry.

Weekend review: The major talking points from European soccer

Talking points from the weekend in European soccer leagues:

BARCELONA TAKE HUGE STEP TOWARDS LALIGA TITLE

Barcelona have tightened their grip at the top of the LaLiga standings after an electric 2-1 comeback win in an El Clásico against bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday.

Franck Kessié's stunner in added time gave Barça a well-earned victory that left second-placed Real trailing the leaders by 12 points with only 12 games to be played.

Gavi makes history by attempting two head tackles in one game

There are all sorts of stats and accolades that illustrate how talented Gavi is — the Golden Boy award, Spain's youngest goalscorer, the youngest World Cup scorer since Pelé — but he's a phenomenon best experienced live.

The sky might be falling on Barcelona (littered with fake cash featuring the word "MAFIA"), but Gavi's willing to take on that duel. "Lost cause" is not in the 18-year-old's lexicon. 

Prosecutors sue Barcelona for allegedly buying refereeing favors

BARCELONA — Spanish prosecutors have filed a complaint against Barcelona and two of the LaLiga club's ex-presidents over alleged payments to a company owned by a senior refereeing official to influence match results, the public prosecutor's office said on Friday.

A judge has yet to decide whether to take up the case.

The club allegedly paid over $7.8 million between 2001 and 2018 to firms owned by Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, who was vice-president of the refereeing committee of the Spanish football association in 1993-2018.

Real Madrid a la vista: Cachorro Montes dice que está listo para enfrentar a Vinícius Jr. y Karim Benzema

César Montes está listo para enfrentar uno de los desafíos más duros desde que arribó a LaLiga: Real Madrid.

Espanyol visitará a los merengues este sábado 11 de marzo, tratando de sumar puntos que lo alejen del descenso y extender la racha de tres partidos que lleva la Casa Blanca sin conocer la victoria

César Montes vs Real Madrid

Montes liderará la defensa periquita y confía que su equipo algo de daño puede hacerle al Real Madrid.

No penalty call, no review despite clear Barcelona foul in 1-0 win over Valencia

Despite playing down a man for over 30 minutes after Ronald Araújo's red card, Barcelona escaped with a 1-0 victory over Valencia at the Camp Nou on Sunday to keep second-place Real Madrid at a comfortable distance.  

Valencia, mired in 19th and desperate for every point, were left fuming at referee Javier Alberola Rojas for his decision to look the other way when Franck Kessié clearly fouled Fran Pérez in the area in the 85th minute.

Ronaldinho scored his last goal for Barcelona 15 years ago and boy was it a beauty

Ronaldinho’s last Barcelona goal was scored against Atlético Madrid on March 1, 2008. At the time of writing, that moment took place 15 years ago. How time flies.

Ronaldinho’s final goal for la Blaugrana is the legacy of that game, however on the day it was a triumphant 4-2 victory for Atlético Madrid.

Ronnie scored the opening goal in the 29th minute with a spectacular bicycle kick. The assist from Xavi wasn’t too shabby either.

Upgrade the love you feel for your team with this marvelous soccer hat collection

A jersey is not the only way to show your love for your team and the people from Canadian brand Fan Ink know it. That's why, getting ready for the Spring/Summer 2023 cycle, they decided to put on orbit a marvelous soccer headwear collection inspired by rave culture and terrace fashion.

Yeah! It sounds pretentious and hipster, something you will read on Hypebeast, but after you see what they are cooking with their "Marina Rave" collection, you'll be ready to shut up, embrace the wave and give them your money.

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