Atletico Madrid took a firm grip on their Champions League quarter-final as goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth earned a 2-0 first-leg victory over 10-man Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Barcelona dominated proceedings, but Atletico’s rock-solid defence combined with swift counter-attacks paid off after Pau Cubarsi was sent off for hauling down Giuliano Simeone in the 42nd minute as the last man.
Read more
FC Barcelona midfielder Gavi tore his anterior cruciate ligament on international duty with Spain and needs surgery, his club has confirmed. Gavi, 19, left the pitch in tears on Sunday after landing awkwardly when jumping to control the ball. Barca said he would have surgery on his right ACL, with a further update on the injury due in “the coming days”.
Read more
Former champions Spain got their World Cup off to a pulsating start with a record 7-0 win over a shell-shocked Costa Rica, with an early Dani Olmo strike taking his country past the 100 goal mark in soccer’s showpiece event The European giants sought to make their mark in Group E with an unrelenting pursuit of goals against a Costa Rican side that posed no threat, taking the points with ease thanks to Olmo, Gavi, Marco Asensio, Carlos Soler, Alvaro Morata and a brace from Ferran Torres.
Read more