Sports
Barcelona Claims La Liga Title After Winning Espanyol

Barcelona has won La Liga for the first time since 2019 by winning Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday, wrestling the title back from rivals Real Madrid.
The Catalan giants clinched their 27th Spanish championship at the home of their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full time as celebrating Barcelona players were chased from the field by pitch invaders.
Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona, along with goals for Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde, while Javi Puado and Joselu pulled two back late on for the hosts.

Barcelona have endured a troubled period on and off the pitch in recent years but their triumph signals significant improvement, with coach Xavi Hernandez winning his first major trophy since taking over in November 2021.
President Joan Laporta’s rebuild was widely criticised last summer in light of the club’s perilous financial situation.

Early Champions League elimination was a blow, but the club won the Spanish Super Cup in January, before sealing La Liga glory with four games to spare.
“It’s a magnificent feeling, (of) work well done,” Xavi told Movistar.
“Ten months of work and sacrifice. The fans deserve it, the club, it gives us stability and security that things are being done well.
“We sealed La Liga with a fantastic game, we were brilliant.”
Xavi did not spring any surprises with his line-up and Barcelona’s first team took to the pitch with one goal firmly in mind, the end finally in sight.

They conjured an electric display, one of their finest this season, to seal their triumph and leave their city rivals 19th, four points from safety with four matches remaining.
Barcelona broke the deadlock after 11 minutes with a well-worked goal, finished off by Lewandowski for his 20th of the season in La Liga.
Ronald Araujo played an inch perfect long pass for left-back Balde, who blazed past Espanyol defender Oscar Gil and crossed for Lewandowski to bundle home from close range.
Gil was beaten by Balde again for the second goal, this time scored by the young left-back after Pedri darted to the byline and scooped an inviting cross to the back post.

It was Balde’s first goal for Barcelona, capping a superb breakthrough season for the youngster, who has phased veteran defender Jordi Alba out of the side.
Espanyol goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco tipped away a Lewandowski effort as Barcelona poured forward, with the hosts battling not to be blown away.
‘Can’t lack respect’
It worked for a while, but visitors grabbed the third before half-time when Raphinha put the ball on a plate for Lewandowski to roll home.
The Polish striker’s arrival from Bayern Munich was a key part of last summer’s rebuild and despite a dip in the second half of the season, has paid the Catalans back in goals.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a sublime save to deny former team-mate Martin Braithwaite from close range in stoppage time at the end of the first period.
Kounde headed home the fourth early in the second half from Frenkie de Jong’s perfect chipped pass as Espanyol’s defence crumbled yet again.

Some Espanyol fans headed for the exits early while others demanded the board resign, including aiming one unsavoury chant at the club’s Chinese owners.
Ter Stegen denied Puado when through on goal, determined to earn a La Liga record-equalling 26th clean sheet of the season in the top flight.
However moments later the Espanyol forward found himself through on goal once more and this time scored with a sublime lob — small consolation in the face of Espanyol’s defeat and Barcelona’s glory.
Joselu pulled another goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.
Xavi’s side celebrated at full-time, to the anger of Espanyol fans, who invaded the pitch, with Barcelona players sprinting down the tunnel to escape.
“The celebration is normal, but I know we’re not at home and we can’t lack respect,” added Xavi.
“I know it’s difficult to control but I told them the best thing would be to get inside now.”
AFP
Sports
LaLiga: I’m at my best right now – Vinicius Jr

Real Madrid attacker, Vinicius Jr has said that he is at his best right now.
The Brazilian is in the midst of a decent season with Los Blancos, having scored 17 goals and 12 assists in 35 games across competitions.
Nine of those goals and seven assists have come in 20 La Liga outings.
“I’m at my best right now. I had injuries. With so many games you can’t be 100% in all of them,” he told the press ahead Real Madrid clash with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League Round of sixteen at Santiago Bernabeu.
The Real beat their neighbours 2-1 to take a slim advantage into the second coming up next week .
“Playing 80 games you can’t always be at your best. You’re not always in your head and you’re not always physically fit.
A lot of players are playing with injuries.
“I think my season is going well. It’s normal that people demand more from me and want more from me.
But now comes the decisive moment of the season and at Madrid we play better at this stage of the season,” he added.
Real Madrid were defeated 2-1 by Real Betis in the La Liga at the weekend.
Sports
WSL: Payne delighted with Player of the Month nomination

Everton midfielder, Toni Payne, is excited to be nominated for the English Women’s Super League, WSL, Player of the Month for February.
Payne is one of the five nominees for the award.
It’s the first time the Nigeria international has been nominated for the individual prize.
“It definitely feels good. You know, it’s my first time in the league and the WSL.
I definitely knew it was going to be a struggle in the beginning, but I think I’m finally catching my stride here,” the Nigeria international told the club’s official website.
The 27-year-old registered two assists in three league appearances for Everton in February.
Recall that Payne joined Everton on a free transfer last summer.
Sports
BREAKING: Arsenal route to Champions League final confirmed as Mikel Arteta learns round of 16 opponents

Arsenal will face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League round of 16, it has been confirmed.
The draw for the last-16 was held in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, with the Gunners one of eight seeded teams after they finished in the top eight of the league phase.
With the Champion League now using a bracket system, just like in major international tournaments, Arsenal and the 15 other clubs still in the competition now know their possible route to the final, which will be played in Munich on May 31.
Arsenal were drawn on the silver side of the draw and will face PSV in the last-16. The Dutch side knocked Juventus out 4-3 on aggregate in the play-off round so will be a stern test for Mikel Arteta’s Squad.
Elsewhere in the round of 16, Aston Villa were drawn against Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund were drawn against Lille, Atletico Madrid were drawn against Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen were drawn against Bayern Munich, Feyenoord were drawn against Inter, PSG were drawn against Liverpool and Barcelona were drawn against Benfica.
With Arsenal on the silver side of the draw, the Gunners know that they will face one of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final, should they progress past PSV. The first leg of the quarter-final would be played at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s possible semi-final opponents include one of Liverpool, PSG, Club Brugge or Aston Villa.
As Arsenal were seeded for the draw, they will play at home in the round of 16 second leg. The first legs of the round of 16 will be played on March 4 and March 5, and the second legs will be played on March 11 and March 12.
Each club plays once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.
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