Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has hit back at Barcelona in a row between the rival clubs over refereeing standards.
Title-chasing Real controversially beat bottom side Almeria 3-2 in LaLiga last weekend after a number of contentious VAR calls went in their favour.
Commenting on what occurred, Barca boss Xavi claimed his side could not expect such luck with refereeing decisions.
“I already said in Getafe that it was going to be very difficult to win this league,” said Xavi, whose side are seven points behind second-placed Real. “There are things that we do not control, everyone has seen it.”
Barca president Joan Laporta went even further in his criticisms, suggesting the whole competition had been “corrupted” by the Almeria controversies.
Kieran Trippier says Bayern Munich’s interest is a “compliment” but insists he remains fully committed to Newcastle.
The Magpies reportedly rejected a bid from the German champions to pry the England international away from the north east this month.
Trippier reiterated that Bayern’s interest has not put him off from being an integral player for Eddie Howe’s side, insisting he wants to make history.
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Speaking after Newcastle’s 2-0 FA Cup victory over Fulham, Trippier said: “It’s always a compliment when a team like Bayern come in for you but I want to make history with the club, win a trophy and help the club grow for as long as possible.
“I hope everybody knows my commitment to t…
Holger Badstuber is eager to make an impact during the remainder of the season following his recent return from injury.
After returning to the Bayern Munich set-up recently following long-term injuries, Holger Badstuber is eager to make the most of the remainder of this season.
The defender made his first competitive appearance since September in Bayern s 8-0 win over Hamburg earlier this month, following a spell on the sidelines with thigh injuries.
Prior to that, Badstuber endured a lengthy lay-off due to cruciate knee ligament trouble, which saw him miss the second half of the 2012-13 season and the whole of the following campaign.
Having worked his way back into Bayern s side, the Germany international is eager to remain in Pep Guardiola s plans…
Goals from Sadio Mane and Philippe Coutinho earned Liverpool a 2-1 success over West Brom at Anfield, although Gareth McAuley s late consolation denied Jurgen Klopp s side a place at the Premier League summit.
Earlier on Saturday, Arsenal and Tottenham had been held to 0-0 draws by Middlesbrough and Bournemouth respectively, while the remaining top-four side, Manchester City, host Southampton on Sunday.
As a result, Liverpool came into this clash knowing a victory by two goals or more would send them top no easy task against a usually stubborn Baggies outfit.
McAuley s strike from a corner with nine minutes remaining means Liverpool must settle for second, behind Arsenal on goal difference, but Klopp will surely be satisfied with a run that has seen them take …
Pep Guardiola is optimistic the best club in the world Barcelona will recover from off-field turmoil in a short time under a new president.
Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu was provisionally released under charges of unfair administration and corruption of business after being arrested following a raid on the LaLiga club s offices on Monday.
Bartomeu and ex-director Jaume Masferrer exercised their right not to testify on Tuesday when answering to charges of unfair administration and corruption of business.
Barca s head of legal services Roman Gomez Ponti and former director Jaume Masferrer were also arrested.
The Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC) has confirmed the case was still open.
The investigation is thought t…
Jack Grealish is ready to be the X factor for Manchester City in their Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid, according to the club s former defender Kolo Toure.
Toure heralded the winger’s uniqueness and bravery with the ball ahead of what many have identified as treble-chasing City’s toughest challenge so far this season.
Pep Guardiola’s men will be desperate to make it past Los Blancos after their opponents’ stunning comeback against his side in last year’s semi-finals.
Pundits and fans have been identifying Erling Haaland as City’s key difference maker following a record-breaking first season in Manchester that has seen him score 51 goals in all competitions.
But Toure feels it may well be Grealish who City end up relying on …
Olympiacos midfielder Ariel Ibagaza has signed a new one-year contract with the side as he prepares to end his career there.
The 36-year-old Argentine has been with the Greek outfit since 2010 after making a switch from La Liga, where he had spent the previous 12 years.
He is still a regular fixture in the Superleague, having made 24 appearances last season and he has declared his love for the side after penning the extension.
I m happy to stay another year at Olympiacos and essentially end my career with a team that I love and I feel that love me too, he told the club s official website.
I see that there is a great effort to build a great team here and I will contribute as much as I can to achieve our objectives.
I m excited to hear my name again from t…
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has stated that it would be an honour to take charge of Inter.
Simeone played for Inter between 1997 and 1999, helping them to a UEFA Cup triumph in 1998.
The Argentine has guided Atletico to glory in the Europa League, Super Cup and Copa del Rey since taking over at the Spanish capital club in 2011.
Atletico sit second in La Liga following a fine start to the season and, although he is attracted to the prospect of coaching Inter, the 43-year-old has no immediate desire to leave Estadio Vicente Calderon.
Inter? It would be an honour, Simeone told Il Giornale. But for now, all that talk is left to the newspapers.
I see myself at Atletico Madrid for some time yet. Some say I might become the (Alex) Ferguson of the Colchone…
Benjamin Pavard remains fully committed to Stuttgart despite his obvious potential to play at the highest level, according to club sporting director Michael Reschke.
The versatile defender reportedly attracted interest from Bayern Munich and Tottenham in the aftermath of an excellent World Cup for France.
Bayern boss Niko Kovac admitted he was a fan of the 22-year-old, but talk of a potential move to Bavaria has quietened as the new Bundesliga season draws near.
Reschke is confident Pavard will stay at Stuttgart for the upcoming campaign, citing stability as important for the former Lille man.
Benji is a player for the big clubs, sure, the former Bayern technical director told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung publication.
But another year in …
Los Angeles FC have won the Major League Soccer Supporters Shield and next month they will be attempting to win their first MLS Cup since setting up the franchise in 2018. But whilst the players are trying to make a big victory on the pitch, the club want to make another win, but this one off the pitch.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, LAFC are potential suitors for Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic. The California-based club are interested in the Croatian veteran as he is nearing his departure from Turin. The MLS transfer window has closed and the player would not be able to take part in MLS until the 2020 season comes by.
It is a well-known fact that Juventus have tried to sell Mandzukic this summer, with teams like Manchester United and PSG targeting him, but no deal …