Tag: La Liga

Soccer Champions Tour 2023: Schedule, tickets, stadiums and more

El Clásico is coming back to the U.S.

El Clásico is coming back to the United States.

Barcelona and Real Madrid will face off on U.S. soil for the third time, with their match at the 105,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Texas highlighting this summer’s Soccer Champions Tour.

The eight-game event will include those two Spanish juggernauts — who will play four games apiece during their U.S. trip — plus Juventus, AC Milan, Arsenal, and Manchester United.

The series, which is being put on by investment firm Sixth Street, event promoter Legends, and AEG, the owners of the LA Galaxy, will be played in California, Texas, Nevada, and Florida. Seven of the eight matches will take place in NFL or college football stadiums, while Juventus will meet AC Milan at the Galaxy’s home, Dignity Health Sports Park.

Kickoff times have not yet been announced, and in a release announcing the event, it was noted that “the matches remain subject to approval by the relevant football authorities.” An exclusive pre-sale window will begin May 16, with tickets going on sale for the general public on May 19.

Here are the Soccer Champions Tour fixtures for 2023 in the United States, including how to purchase tickets.

Soccer Champions Tour 2023 (times ET)

Saturday, July 22: FC Barcelona vs. Juventus at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif. TICKETS.

Sunday, July 23: Real Madrid vs. AC Milan at The Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, Calif. TICKETS.

Wednesday, July 26: Arsenal vs. FC Barcelona at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif. TICKETS.

Wednesday, July 26: Real Madrid vs. Manchester United at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas. TICKETS.

Thursday, July 27: Juventus vs. AC Milan at Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif. TICKETS.

Saturday, July 29: FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas. TICKETS.

Tuesday, Aug. 1: AC Milan vs, FC Barcelona at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev. TICKETS.

Wednesday, Aug. 2: Juventus vs. Real Madrid at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla. TICKETS.

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After 18 years, Sergio Busquets says this is his last season at Barcelona

Busquets is looking to leave Barça on top

It’s truly the end of an era at the Camp Nou.

Sergio Busquets, after 18 years and over 700 appearances, has announced that this will be his final season with Barcelona.

“Hello culers!” began Busquets’ statement, which the club posted Wednesday on its social media accounts. “The time has come to announce that this will be my last season with Barça.”

Busquets’ announcement comes with Barcelona on the verge of adding to the extensive list of trophies that it has won with him on its books. Barça is atop La Liga by some distance, holding a 13-point edge over Atlético Madrid with five games to play. A single win, or a single point should Atlético drop any points from now until the end of the season, will mark the ninth time Busquets has been part of a La Liga championship-winning side.

“I always dreamed of playing with this shirt and at this stadium, and reality has exceeded all of my dreams,” continued Busquets. “Everything has a beginning and an end, and although it has not been an easy decision, I think the time has come.”

Busquets has been a fixture at the base of the Barcelona midfield for nearly 20 years, and that hasn’t changed even as he prepares to depart the club. He has started 24 of a possible 33 league matches in 2022-23, with his most recent appearance taking him up to 719 in all competitions for the club.

Only Lionel Messi and Barça’s current manager Xavi have more in the team’s history.

Along with the league success, Busquets played a major role in three Champions League titles, three Club World Cup victories, and seven triumphs in the Copa del Rey.

All of that success at the club level came while Busquets racked up 143 caps for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

What’s next for Busquets?

While Busquets appears to be departing on his own terms, he leaves after a season that underlined the financial realities at Barcelona. Busquets is said to be one of the club’s top earners, and Barça scrambled to register players after a summer spending spree left it in violation of La Liga regulations.

It is not clear where Busquets will end up next. He has been persistently linked to an MLS move over the last two seasons, with Inter Miami top of the list, but The Athletic has reported that his enthusiasm for coming to the United States has dimmed. That report also says that like virtually every famous player right now, he has received a hefty offer to ply his trade in Saudi Arabia.

Speculation as to whether Busquets will end up being the latest big name to end up in the Saudi Pro League is inexorably linked to Messi, his longtime teammate and one of his best friends off the field.

After the announcement, Messi posted a congratulatory message for Busquets on Instagram.

“On the pitch you always wore No. 5, but as a player and a person you are a perfect 10 out of 10, Busi,” wrote Messi. “Thank you for everything we shared on and off the pitch.”

It is looking increasingly likely that Messi will end up accepting an eye-watering sum to play in Saudi Arabia next year. Ironically, those rumors come just as Barcelona is said to be trying to lure Messi back to the club, a situation that likely won’t be helped with Busquets walking out the door.

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Edin Terzic is ready for Dortmund to once again lose a superstar

“Last year it was Erling, the year before it was Jadon”

Edin Terzić seems to be embracing the inevitable.

The Borussia Dortmund head coach has been around the club for some time; first as a scout, then an assistant coach, interim manager and finally, his current position which he assumed ahead of this season.

Terzić has therefore seen plenty of players rise to prominence at the club before being sold on for a massive fee.

Jude Bellingham seems to be the next in line, with Marca reporting this week that Real Madrid’s move for the England international midfielder is almost done.

Los Blancos will reportedly pay between €100 million and €120 million for Bellingham.

Ahead of his title-chasing side’s game against Wolfsburg on Sunday, Terzić addressed the speculation around the 19-year-old. While he didn’t confirm anything had been done, the coach did mention two other ex-Dortmund stars who have left in recent years.

“Now the news comes from Spain, before that it came from England, before that it even came from France at one point,” the coach said at a press conference. “Last year it was Erling [Haaland], the year before it was Jadon [Sancho].  We’ve had a lot of experience with that over the last few years.

“Jude comes here every day and gives everything to become German champion at the end of the season. I haven’t even heard from him that he’s involved with any club. We are much more concerned with how we can make him and the team better. That’s the only topic I currently have with him. The rest are topics that have no place in the dressing room or in the manager’s office. All we are concerned with now is making sure we have something really nice to holds in our hands at the end of the season.”

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Carlo Ancelotti: What Giannis Antetokounmpo said was fantastic

The NBA star’s philosophy on failure in sports has gone viral and drawn widespread praise

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he agrees with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s viral response to a reporter asking if the Milwaukee Bucks’ season was a failure.

After the Bucks were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Miami Heat, Antetokounmpo was visibly frustrated by the question.

“It’s not a failure, it’s steps to success,” Antetokounmpo said. “Michael Jordan played for 15 years and won six championships. Were the other nine years a failure? It’s the wrong question. There’s no failure in sports.”

The Bucks star’s response has been widely praised by figures inside and outside sports. During a press conference on Monday, Ancelotti added to the chorus of praise for the Greek star’s philosophy.

“What Antetokounmpo said was fantastic. I think in 100 percent the same way as him,” the Italian coach said.

“In sport you can’t talk about failure, and in life you can’t talk about failure. Failure is when you don’t try to do something as well as you can. When you try to do your best, you have a clear conscience, and that’s never a failure, not just in sport but in life.

“In sport, you lose a lot more often than you win, I have a big cabinet with a lot of trophies, but if I had to include all the ones I’ve lost, it wouldn’t be a cabinet, it would be a house.”

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La Liga USA-Mexico tour 2023: Schedule, tickets, stadiums and more

Atlético Madrid, Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Sevilla will each play two games in North America

Four of Spain’s biggest clubs will head to the USA and Mexico this summer for preseason friendlies.

However, the country’s two biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, will not be taking part.

But there will still be plenty of star power on display as Atlético Madrid, Real Betis, Real Sociedad and Sevilla all head to North America ahead of the 2023-24 season.

A statement from La Liga said: “The summer tour is part of La Liga and its clubs’ strategy to grow the Spanish Professional League’s footprint in the United States and Mexico.

“The tour will make its first stop in 2023 in the United States and Mexico. It will continue the strategy to develop and grow the league, its clubs and competitions in North American markets.”

Each of the clubs will play two games, one in Mexico and one in the United States. The two games in the U.S. will be a doubleheader at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Here are the fixtures for La Liga’s 2023 summer tour of the United States and Mexico, including how to purchase tickets.

La Liga USA-Mexico tour 2023

August 2: Atlético Madrid vs Real Sociedad — Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico. 7 p.m. local. TICKETS.

August 2: Sevilla vs Real Betis — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico. 9 p.m. local. TICKETS.

August 5: Atlético Madrid vs Sevilla — Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA. 4 p.m. local. TICKETS.

August 5: Real Sociedad vs Real Betis — Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA. 7 p.m. local. TICKETS.

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This Eden Hazard thing is just getting sad

The Belgian’s time in Madrid is an ongoing disaster

Eden Hazard has just about reached rock bottom at Real Madrid.

It seems like a decade ago now, but it really was just in 2019 when Madrid paid Chelsea €100 million to sign the Belgian — then one of the world’s foremost attacking players.

But Hazard’s time in Madrid has been, to put it nicely, a disaster.

First it was injuries that limited his minutes but at this point, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti simply isn’t picking Hazard. Like, at all.

The Belgian has made just one La Liga start and two substitute appearances this season, and has seen the field exactly once since the World Cup break.

Once one of the world’s most feared players, Hazard now just wants to play.

“I miss it, I want to play, I want to have fun on the field. Training is good, but what keeps us alive are the matches,” Hazard told Belgian broadcaster RTBF.

“I hope deep inside me that I can bring something and that the coach is still counting on me, I hope. We’ll see if I’m still going to play by the end of the season. I doubt a little. It’s up to me to show him in training that he can call on me.”

Hazard: I don’t talk to Ancelotti

The 32-year-old made another frank admission in his interview: he doesn’t talk to his coach anymore.

“There is respect between us. But I’m not going to say that [Ancelotti and I] talk to each other, because we don’t,” Hazard said. “But there will always be respect. Even if tomorrow he doesn’t pick me anymore.

“I must have respect for a guy like Carlo Ancelotti. In terms of what he represents for football, what he has done in his career. There is no problem.”

In a press conference on Tuesday, Ancelotti did not dispute his player’s characterization of their relationship — or the lack thereof.

“The relationship isn’t cold. Look. We have to assess two things. Hazard has been very honest. We don’t talk much, I don’t speak much with him but speaking is also about character, if you get on better with one person or another,” the Italian said.

“It’s the same with your children, you can speak more with one child than another. That isn’t the most important thing, what’s important to me is that even though he doesn’t play much, he respects me, and I value that a lot, and I respect him in exactly the same way, that’s the most important thing for me.

“He isn’t playing because there’s a lot of competition, he has a player in that position who’s doing a lot right now, which is Vinícius.”

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¡No estoy llorando, tú estás llorando! Gerard Piqué nos llegó con su retiro del Barça

Chequen cómo les quedó e intenten no derramar agüita por los ojos:

¡Malditos, nos pusieron el pianito llegador!

Este jueves Gerard Piqué lo hizo oficial: su último juego como futbolista profesional será con el Barcelona este sábado 5 de noviembre.

Pero claro, no podía anunciarlo con un tuit cualquiera, el jugador y su equipo prepararon un muy llegador mensaje donde el español hace una especie de homenaje a sí mismo, al niño que desde pequeño quiso ser jugador del Barça, y al adulto que le cumplió todos sus sueños.

La verdad hicieron un muy buen trabajo con la despedida. Cualquiera que le guste el futbol, aún sin ser aficionado del Barcelona ni de Piqué, sacará una lagrimita con la historia que nos cuentan.

Chequen cómo les quedó e intenten no derramar agüita por los ojos:

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Benzema cements legacy as all-time great with Ballon d’Or win

The striker had an incredible 2021-22 season, leading Real Madrid to Champions League and La Liga titles

Karim Benzema has won the 2022 Ballon d’Or, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest strikers of all time.

The 34-year-old was rewarded for a sensational 2021-22 campaign with Real Madrid, during which he scored 48 goals and 15 assists while leading his side to Champions League and La Liga titles. He also led France to a UEFA Nations League title in October 2021.

Benzema won the prize for the first time in his career as he continues his prolific form into his mid-30s.

Benzema has been one of the world’s best since emerging at Lyon in the mid-2000s, earning a move to Real Madrid in 2009. In Spain, Benzema has won four league titles and five Champions League, leading Madrid’s line while increasingly becoming a vocal leader in recent years.

Benzema’s scoring at Madrid notably increased after Cristiano Ronaldo departed to join Juventus ahead of the 2018-19 season. In each of the four subsequent seasons, Benzema has surpassed 20 league goals.

Gavi wins Kopa Trophy

Barcelona star Gavi has been awarded the Kopa Trophy, which is given to the best performing player under the age of 21.

Gavi was the youngest of the 10 finalists for the prize, which was first awarded in 2018. The Spanish midfielder broke through for club and country in 2021-22 at the age of 17, and looks set to be a longtime fixture for both Spain and Barcelona along with last year’s Kopa winner, Pedri.

Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga came in second in the voting, with Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala third.

Courtois wins Yashin Trophy

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been awarded the Yashin Trophy, which is given to the top goalkeeper.

The Belgian led Madrid to La Liga and Champions League success in 2021-22, saving perhaps his best performance for the Champions League final against Liverpool.

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Real Madrid had a cathartic response to all the racists

Vinícius Jr. is still dancing

It was easier than usual to root for Real Madrid on Sunday.

The team’s star winger Vinícius Jr. had been at the center of a firestorm, which was set off by Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke warning the Brazilian not to perform his trademark dance if he scored in the Madrid derby.

“There would be trouble, for sure, [that is] to be expected,” Koke said ahead of Sunday’s match at Atlético’s home Metropolitano Stadium.

In an appearance on Spanish TV later on Friday, leading agent Pedro Bravo backed Koke’s comments but added his own unique (read: racist) spin on things.

“When you score against a rival, if you want to dance samba, you go to the sambadrome in Brazil, here what you have to do is to respect your colleagues and stop playing the monkey,” Bravo said.

Amid that backdrop, some Atlético fans made things even uglier by calling Vinícius a monkey in pre-game chants outside the stadium. Unfortunately, as the linked video shows, it wasn’t just a few fans either.

Vinícius responds

After he posted a response on social media leading up to the game, Vinícius and his Madrid teammates had the perfect on-field response in Sunday’s derby.

After Rodrygo opened the scoring, he and his Brazilian teammates went to the corner flag and defiantly danced in front of the Metropolitano crowd.

Vinícius was heavily involved on Madrid’s second goal, as his shot hit the post and was put home by Federico Valverde.

Real Madrid would go on to win 2-1 in a game where Los Blancos had a lot more neutral fans than they are likely to ever have.

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Simeone basically admits Atlético benching Griezmann to avoid activating €40m purchase fee

Things are going to get real awkward unless there’s a solution soon

Antoine Griezmann is in an unenviable situation at Atlético Madrid.

Griezmann is back with Atlético in the second season of a two-year loan from Barcelona, but that loan contains a clause that is making life extremely awkward for him and his manager Diego Simeone right now.

Should Griezmann play more than 45 minutes in more than half of Atlético’s games over the two-season loan, then the club would be obliged to purchase him from Barca for €40 million.

And it’s pretty clear that Atlético would rather not pay that fee.

Griezmann has been used off the bench in all three of his appearances this season, during which he’s scored two goals. That comes after he started 21 of his 26 league games for Atlético last season.

As speculation over the club intentionally benching him grows, Simeone essentially confirmed that was the case in a press conference on Friday.

When asked if he was being told by Atlético higher-ups to limit the Frenchman’s minutes, Simeone said: “They have known me for 10 years. I am a club man and always will be.”

This situation, unsurprisingly, isn’t going down well with Griezmann. According to L’Equipe, the 31-year-old has asked Atlético to negotiate a lower fee with Barcelona and activate the purchase clause as soon as possible.

Here’s hoping that some kind of an agreement can be reached, because this is only going to get more awkward as the season goes on.

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