Barcelona's star player Pedri has expressed his concern to his teammates after their recent loss to Leganes, placing them on top of the table only by goal difference. With their upcoming game against Atletico Madrid being a crucial one, Pedri urges the team to channel their successful Champions League form into their domestic league matches. Failure to do so could result in them losing their top spot to rivals Real Madrid.
The once harmonious coach-player relationship between Pedri and Xavi at Barcelona appears to have soured towards the end of Xavi's tenure. Recent reports from Cadena SER and Diario AS suggest that Pedri felt his fitness was not being taken into consideration by his former coach, leading to tension between the two. This adds to previous rumors of a possible rift between the two, including talk of Xavi being willing to part with Pedri. With their contrasting training styles now coming to light, it seems that their once close relationship may have hit a breaking point.
In their return to La Liga action, Barcelona showcased their dominance with a 5-2 win against Sevilla, including a return of Gavi after 11 months on the sidelines. The young star impressed by scoring a goal and receiving the captain's armband from his friend Pedri, who also scored a goal. The win solidified Barcelona's lead at the top of the table with a three point lead at the end of the weekend. Team members and fans alike were thrilled to see Gavi back on the pitch after his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Flick is set to make major changes to the FC Barcelona lineup as they face off against Osasuna in a crucial La Liga match on Saturday. With the aim of extending their lead at the top of the table to seven points, Flick confirmed that there will be rotations due to the packed schedule of games between international breaks. Star players such as Raphinha and Lewandowski will be rested, while 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and midfielder Pedri are set to make an appearance. However, there is bad news for Marc Casado who won't be finding a place in the first XI.
Despite missing several key players, Barcelona maintains their 100% record in La Liga with a 1-0 win over Getafe. Top-scorer Robert Lewandowski secured the win with a first-half strike, taking advantage of a mistake by Getafe's goalkeeper David Soria. With this victory, Barcelona continues to thrive in the league, even with players like Pedri and Marc-Andre ter Stegen resting.
Barcelona continued their dominant start to the season under new coach Hansi Flick, as they cruised to a 7-0 victory over newly promoted Valladolid. Raphinha was the stand-out performer, scoring a hat-trick and assisting one of the goals, while Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Jules Koundé, and Ferran Torres also found the net. The addition of Flick and a talented attacking unit, including Spanish trio Yamal, Olmo, and Pedri, has given Barcelona fans hope that they can compete with defending champions Real Madrid.
Despite a strong start from Rayo Vallecano in the first half, Barcelona was able to find their footing in the second period and equalize the score. Unai Lopez opened the scoring for Rayo but Pedri's goal, assisted by Raphinha, gave Barcelona the much-needed equaliser. The second half was controlled by Barcelona as they dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities, finally managing to secure a draw against a tough Rayo side.
As Spain mourns the loss of Pedri for the remainder of the European Championship, teammate Rodri has called for better player protection in the sport of soccer. The injury was a result of a heavy tackle by Germany's Toni Kroos, who only received a yellow card for the incident. With Spain facing a physically demanding semifinal against France, Rodri emphasizes the need for the referee to maintain fair play and prevent such injuries. The coach of Spain, Luis de la Fuente, also criticized Kroos' actions and offered advice to another young player on how to handle tough challenges on the field.
The 2024 European Championship has reached its final stages, with only four teams remaining in contention - Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands. Spain are considered the favorites heading into the semifinals, despite missing key midfielder Pedri due to an injury. Meanwhile, France has struggled to find their footing in the tournament, with star player Kylian Mbappe struggling with a broken nose. France is aiming to win their first European crown since 2000, while Spain is looking to repeat their 2008 victory. Don't miss the exciting semifinal clash between these two European giants in the quest for European glory.
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 34, following their defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. Despite his farewell ending in defeat, Kroos showed his class by apologising to Pedri for the tackle that led to the Spanish midfielder's injury. He initially retired after Germany's last 16 loss at Euro 2020, but was convinced to return by manager Julian Nagelsmann before the start of Euro 2024.