Final whistle in the Bernabéu! Real Madrid 0-3 FC Barcelona 
Suárez, Messi and Aleix Vidal 
#ElClásico#ForçaBarça
Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history to beat Barcelona 4-0 on Tuesday, overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit and advancing to their second successive final with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Two goals each from stand-in forward Divock Origi and halftime substitute Georginio Wijnaldum left Lionel Messi and Barcelona utterly shell-shocked by a Liverpool performance full of passion, belief and determination.
Juergen Klopp's side will play the winner of Wednesday's other semifinal between Ajax Amsterdam and Tottenham Hotspur, with the Dutch side leading 1-0 from the first leg in London.
"Unbelievable. I don't think many people gave us a chance," Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said.
"Before the game we knew that it would be difficult but it was still possible, of course. It's amazing. We knew that at Anfield we could do something special."
Liverpool become only the third team in the history of the European Cup or Champions League to come from three goals down after the first leg of a semifinal and progress after Panathinaikos in 1970-71 and Barcelona themselves in 1985-86.
For Barca, who went out on away goals to AS Roma in the quarterfinals last year after winning the first leg 4-1, it was a bitter night that will raise many questions for coach Ernesto Valverde.
Messi, whose two goals in the first leg had given his team a seemingly comfortable advantage, was unable to make his influence on the game count with an away goal that would have been decisive.
Liverpool, without two-thirds of their strike force with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino injured, took a seventh-minute lead when a poorly headed clearance from Jordi Alba fell at the feet of Henderson, who burst goalward.
His low shot was parried out by Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen but straight to Origi, who slotted home.
Barca had openings in the first half, but when Messi twice got space around the box he fired wide of the target, and when Jordi Alba burst goalward just before halftime, Liverpool keeper Alisson Becker was out quickly to nullify the danger.
Yet the game took a remarkable turn following the introduction of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for the injured left back Andy Robertson at the break.
The Dutchman drove home a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, which Barca keeper Ter Stegen should have saved, to make it 2-0 in the 54th minute.
Two minutes later Wijnaldum rose to meet a Xherdan Shaqiri cross with a powerful header to make it 3-3 on aggregate.
Liverpool then grabbed an extraordinary fourth goal with a quickly taken corner from Alexander-Arnold, catching the Barca defence asleep with a low ball that was turned in at the near post by Origi.
That sent Anfield wild, but then Klopp's side suddenly found themselves needing to switch mindset and defend a lead as Barca slipped, belatedly, into their trademark possession game.
Yet with Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip outstanding in the centre of defence and Brazilian Fabinho making some crucial interventions in midfield, Liverpool held on for one of their most famous wins.
Klopp's side, who lost to Real Madrid in last year's final in Kiev, remain in with a chance of a double triumph as they head into Sunday's final round of Premier League games trailing leaders Manchester City by just a point.
Qualification for the quarterfinal stage of the UEFA Champions League is still very much dicey for the quartet of Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Lyon, and Barcelona.
The first leg games involving the four teams ended in barren draws on Tuesday night.
Liverpool was left frustrated by German champions Bayern Munich at Anfield in a goalless first leg to their Champions League last-16 tie.
Goals were predicted on Merseyside in a battle between two five-time champions of this competition, but shots on target were few and far between on a night of little drama.
Joel Matip squandered the best opportunity of the match in the first half and Sadio Mane also came close on a couple of occasions, though the Reds could not find a breakthrough and now have a tough task in the reverse fixture in three weeks’ time
Each of Bayern Munich’s last three visits to Anfield in European competition have finished 0-0, with the Germans now having failed to score in all four of their away games against Liverpool.
Also, Tuesday’s game was Jurgen Klopp’s 30th meeting with Bayern Munich as manager – he has lost 16 of the previous 29 matches, more than against any other opponent.
In a similar fashion, Lyon and Barcelona played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their own last-16 Champions League clash in France on Tuesday night.
Both teams had opportunities to register during the 90 minutes, but the result means that the tie is delicately poised ahead of the second leg at Camp Nou on March 13.
Barca Star Ousmane Dembele is being sued for €20,000 by his former landlord over unpaid rent and the state in which he left his apartment.
The 21-year-old has had a difficult year since leaving Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona in 2017, but he has become the subject of controversy in Germany once again.
His former landlord claims the France international owes €15,000 worth of rent and is demanding a further €5,000 in compensation to repair the damage done to the home.
Dembele is said to have damaged the floors and left rubbish and clothes throughout the flat, as pictures published by Bild showed. Furthermore, the ex-Rennes star did not give back the keys to the property, meaning the locks had to be changed after his departure.
It has taken longer than expected to begin the lawsuit because Dembele’s current address was unknown, leading to the notice being sent directly to Barcelona.
“Mr Dembele is charged by his former landlord to pay €15,000 rent plus €5.000 compensation,” a spokesman for the local court in Dortmund told SID. ” That is the cost to repair some damages: Broken shutters, damaged floors, for example. The garbage which is mentioned in the report [from Bild] is explicitly not part of this proceeding.”
Now that Dembele has been notified of the lawsuit, he has a limited time to respond.
“The receiver now has two to three weeks to respond to these claims,” the spokesman told Der Western. “If he doesn’t there will be a default judgement.”
It is the latest issue facing the attacker, who has been the subject of headlines already in recent weeks.
“Ousmane has been there for a while. He is a bit used to arriving late. He will certainly say that he is not the only one to do it,” he told reporters this week.
“But he must be a little more attentive. He is a player who has known many things already, despite his youth.
“I don’t doubt that he realises that he has to improve these aspects. This is a situation that can be repeated. He must understand this as soon as possible.”
A Spanish magistrate leading an investigation into alleged irregularities in Neymar’s move to Barcelona in 2013 said Wednesday the Brazilian superstar could face up to six years in prison.
“The term imposed, in principle, could be between four and six years,” said a decree issued by judge Jose Maria Vazquez Honrubia, a copy of which was seen by AFP.
Neymar, his parents, Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell are all awaiting trial over alleged corruption concerning Neymar’s move to the Spanish La Liga giants in 2013.
The Brazilian international forward is now with Paris Saint-Germain in France’s Ligue 1.
The case, which follows a complaint by DIS, a Brazilian group which part-owned the rights to Neymar, surrounds allegations of “corruption” and “fraud” in the player’s move to Barcelona.
Neymar moved to the Spanish La Liga giants in May 2013 for a reported fee of 57.1m euros. Although no financial details of the deal were revealed by either Barcelona or his Brazilian club FC Santos, Neymar’s parents were said to have received 40m euros and FC Santos 17.1m.
In January 2014, prosecutors in Madrid began investigating the transfer because documents requested by the authorities contained contradictory information.
Rosell resigned from his post as president a week later and Barcelona subsequently revealed they had actually paid 86.2m euros for the Brazilian star.
DIS, who received 6m euros of the 17.1m given to FC Santos, alleges that Barcelona and the Brazilian club colluded to mask the true cost of the deal.
Bartomeu, Rosell, Barcelona, FC Santos and its former president, Odilio Rodrigues Filho, are now expected to answer charges of fraud, according to the decree.
Because the prison term involved exceeds five years, three judges are set to preside over Neymar’s trial which is expected to be heard at the Audiencia Nacional, a high court with jurisdiction over Spanish territory as well as over international crimes which come under the jurisdiction of Spanish courts.
Whether Neymar faces a prison term remains to be seen, however.
In May 2017 the Spanish authorities said Neymar should stand trial but no date has yet been set.
Brazilian star, Paulinho returned to Barcelona to meet his old team-mates on Wednesday.
The player surprised his ex-teammates and manager, Ernesto Valverde, when he visited Barcelona’s training centre.
The 30-year-old sealed a move back to Chinese side, Guangzhou Evergrande, just 11 months after joining Barcelona for €40million.
“I am very happy to return to see my ex-teammates and the staff, we appreciate the people at the club a lot,” Paulinho told Barcelona’s official website.
“Whenever I can, I watched the Blaugrana’s games and they always play well.”
The midfielder also spoke about his compatriots that are currently playing at the Camp Nou.
“I know [Philippe] Coutinho very well from Brazil and Barcelona,” he explained.
“I’m sure Arthur will do very well in this team because of his quality and style of play.
“Malcom is a young player with a bright future ahead of him.”
Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba, has given a hint on the next club he would join if his current club decides to sell him.
Pogba has sparked speculation over his future since joining up with France in the international break by suggesting that he could leave Manchester United as early as the January transfer window.
“I’m playing there at the moment, but who knows what will happen in the next few months,” he said earlier this week.
And now in an interview with Telefoot on Saturday, Pogba indicated that Barcelona would be his next club if he leaves United.
He also dropped another hint about his turbulent relationship with United boss Jose Mourinho.
“I’m under contract,” said Pogba.
“There were little things with the coach [Mourinho], the relationship is always the same
“We have goals in common, we want to win, that’s all that matters.
“As long as you do not see me with the Barcelona jersey, it’s because I’m in Manchester. It will always be rumours.”
Barcelona were keen on signing the French star in the summer but United turned down an offer of £45 million plus Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes for the midfielder.
Neymar on Monday insisted he would still be with Paris Saint-Germain next season in a brief interview with Catalan broadcaster TV3 in Barcelona.
Asked if he would be joining Real Madrid for the 2019-20 season, the Brazilian, whose current deal extends to 2022, answered:
“No, I have a contract with PSG and I will continue in Paris.”
The Brazilian, who scored as PSG beat Angers in Ligue 1 on Saturday, was on a flying visit to Spain.
Catalan newspaper Diario Sport tweeted pictures of Neymar with former teammates Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Marc Ter Stegen at Barcelona’s training centre.
The Brazilian was interviewed after making an advert for a poker site with another Barcelona player Gerard Pique and golfer Sergio Garcia.
Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona last summer for a record 222 million euros ($264 million), but Spanish media have recently resumed speculating that he will eventually join Real Madrid.
Former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was appointed Spain’s new coach on Monday after previous incumbent Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of the World Cup.
“Luis Enrique’s appointment as coach for the next two years was approved unanimously,” Luis Rubiales, president of the Spanish football federation, told reporters.
His press briefing came just hours after Jose Francisco Molina, 47, a former goalkeeper at Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna who played nine times for Spain, was named as sporting director.
Enrique, 48, will replace Lopetegui, who was fired by Rubiales when the coach announced he had signed to take over at Real Madrid.
The national team’s then sporting director Fernando Hierro stepped in to replace him and led Spain to the last 16 where they lost to hosts Russia on penalties, before stepping down after the tournament.
Enrique was Barcelona coach for three years from May 2014, leading the Catalan giants to the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles in his first campaign at the helm.
A former midfielder for Sporting Gijon, Real Madrid and Barcelona, Luis Enrique won two Liga titles, one Champions League and three King’s Cups as Barca coach between 2014 and 2017.
He also coached Celta Vigo and Barca’s reserve team and has spent the past year on sabbatical since leaving the Nou Camp in May 2017.
International kit makers Nike have released new home jerseys for La Liga champions Barcelona for the 2018/19 season.
Barcelona were already confirmed as champions with five games to go and will wear the new jersey in their last game of the season against Real Sociedad on Sunday, May 20.
The new jersey's will be worn as a tribute to departing legend who will play his final game in Barcelona's last game of the season.
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| Dembele Models New Jersey |
Speaking about the inspiration behind the design of the new jerseys, a statement on the Nike website revealed that the stripes on the attire are for the 10 districts in Barcelona.
"Which is inspired by Camp Nou’s uniting force against the city’s 10 districts: Les Corts, Sants-Montjuïc, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, La Barceloneta, Sant Martí, Ciutat Vella, Gràcia, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris and Sant Andreu.
"Each of those districts is represented on the jersey by a stripe and, in a marked shift from last season, every one is of even width," the statement read.
Pete Hoppins Nike Football Apparel Senior Design Director had words of praise for Iniesta who will leave the Camp Nou this season.
He said,
“Barcelona is a place where the football club is absolutely fundamental to people’s lives.
“Iniesta is an icon and a hero to the people who live in those districts, so I think it’s very apt he will get to wear the new kit for his final game for the club.”
Nike also revealed that the new home jersey will be available for sale as from Monday, May 21.
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| Sergi Roberto models the new Barcelona jersey |
The Barcelona captain had earlier claimed that he would announce his decision this week after Barcelona beat Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final to defend the title last weekend.
Iniesta in tears, said;
“This is my last season at Barcelona.”
“This was a decision which took a lot of thought. Barcelona are the best club in the world and they have given me everything.
“This club deserves the best version of me and in the near future I will not be able to give that.
“It is best for me to leave this club feeling important, still winning titles.
“It is very difficult for me to say these words but I am so thankful to everyone at Barca and La Masia who made me who I am.”
Andres Iniesta, now 33, has spent his whole career life at the Catalonia club. He was an integral part of the Barcelona sides that won two historic trebles in 2009 and 2015. He has won 8 La Ligas, 6 Copa del Reys, 4 Champions Leagues and several other major trophies with Barcelona.
It was widely reported before that his next stop will be Chinese Super League.
Real Madrid star player, Cristiano Ronaldo has blamed Barcelona's Lionel Messi for Barcelona’s Champions League quarter final exit to AS Roma on Tuesday.
Barcelona gave away 4-1 lead in the reversed fixture in Camp Nou and were thrashed 3-0 in Rome on Tuesday. Messi was not enabled to lift his side from slumping as they crashed out on away goal rule.
Spanish outlet Don Balon reports that Real Madrid’s Ronaldo blamed the defeat on Messi.
Messi started the season in fine form and still has 39 goals to his name so far.
Ronaldo, however, was dreadful at the beginning of the campaign but has since managed to overtake Messi on 40 strikes for the season.
Reports reaching us said that the Real Madrid star thinks Messi is saving himself for the World Cup in June.
Spanish giants, FC Bacelona lost its superstar player, Neymar in the off-season after French giants, Paris Saint-Germain sensationally activated his €222million release clause in August.
Neymar was a key member of Barca's famed 'MSN' forward trio, alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, helping the club to two La Liga titles and the Champions League among others.
But five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, said Barca who are unbeaten and 11 points clear atop the table, are better without the Brazil star.
While speaking with World Soccer, Messi said:
"Without Neymar we are more balanced. His departure meant a change in our way of playing, we lost a lot of attacking potential, but it helped in the defensive sense. We are currently very well armed in the midfield; this makes us stronger in defence."
Barca are also preparing for the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will meet Chelsea for a spot in the quarter-finals.
However, Messi believes another English side, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, are the team to watch, along with PSG.
"Manchester City are one of the strongest teams in the world at the moment. The same goes for PSG," the Argentina attacker said.
"However, there's a lot of football still to play and I don't rule out Real Madrid yet as they have a lot of quality and experience. Then there's Bayern Munich, another great team who will fight till the end. But right now, City and PSG are the best."
One of the world's most successful footballers of all time, Lionel Messi, has received his new Adidas custom boots as it gets delivered in a spectacular fashion.
Lionel Messi received his new Nemeziz Cold Blooded Adidas boots at an event on Friday
These are the photos showing the moment Lionel Messi received his new Adidas boots in spectacular fashion on Friday as the stunning custom footwear was delivered by drone.
According to Daily Mail UK, Messi was presented the Nemeziz Cold Blooded boots at the Club Montjuic of the Palau Sant Jordi of Barcelona.
The boots were delivered to the Barcelona star via a drone as Adidas wowed in the unveiling
The 30-year-old Barcelona ace was guest of honour at the sponsors event and they took the boot unveiling to the next level.
And while Messi was more than happy to pose with his new boots, the attacker also provided a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the young men who joined him on stage - smiles all round.
Messi was guest of honour at the Club Montjuic of the Palau Sant Jordi of Barcelona
Messi has showed no signs his career is ready to slow down and he played a central role for Barcelona as they progressed to the Copa del Rey semi-finals on Wednesday with a 2-0 home win over Espanyol.
He added the crucial second goal on the night after Luis Suarez had opened the scoring for the Catalans.
The Barcelona forward was all smiles as he took centre stage at Friday's showcase event
And his part in the Espanyol win brought with it further history for the star as his goal was Barcelona's 4,000th at the Camp Nou in official competition.
With Cristiano Ronaldo enduring a frustrating season with rivals Real Madrid, Messi has flourished and this term has already seen the Argentine surpass Gerd Muller as Europe's top scorer with a single club.
The new boots feature the Argentine's name on each foot with a sleek black and blue design
Barcelona discovered that they will face Valencia in the semi-finals of the cup competition as Ernesto Valverde's side plot a treble-trophy haul before the end of the season.
With Philippe Coutinho brought in for a club record £145m from Liverpool this month, Messi has more creativity looking to put him through on goal and he may go on to break further records - perhaps in his new boots - before the campaign concludes.
Liverpool playmaker, Philippe Coutinho, has repeated his insistence to the club, about a move to Barcelona in what would be the new British transfer record.
Coutinho, who has scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions this season, failed to seal a move away from Anfield last summer.
However, he is adamant on leaving the Reds, after five years at the club.
Given Coutinho’s attitude and application since submitting a transfer request in the summer, the Brazilian feels it is only fair for Liverpool to accede to his request to leave.
The Premier League club is trying to persuade the player to stay, by presenting multiple incentives and a greater wage packet to their highest earner.
If everything proves unsuccessful, Liverpool may be forced to sell their star man.
Manager Jurgen Klopp noted in August that “in life everything is about timing – whichever club asks early enough. If you ask early enough, you can either switch the plan or whatever. But you cannot come up, close to the start of the season and things like this. It’s like I said: the club is bigger than anybody. That is the most important thing.
“It is about timing. That is how I understand it. And that is all I have to say. Maybe everybody has a price – in the right moment. In the wrong moment? No price.”
Barcelona inflicted an embarrassing 3-0 El Clasico defeat on 10-man Real Madrid at the Bernabeu to leave the Champions League holders 14 points behind in the Spanish Liga title race.
Barcelona produced a superb away performance to secure a victory over Real Madrid that all but eliminates their arch rivals from the Spanish title race.
A second-half Luis Suarez strike and Lionel Messi's penalty, after Dani Carvajal was sent off for handball, helped move Barca nine points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, and increased their advantage over defending champions Real to 14 points.
Karim Benzema hit the post and Cristiano Ronaldo missed two good chances in the first half, but the home side were blown away after the restart in the first El Clasico meeting of the Spanish league season.
Barcelona get a huge win over Real Madrid in #ElClasico to go 14 points clear of their rivals in the league. Via @FOXSoccer
Los Blancos started with Gareth Bale on the bench, and although he forced a save form Marc-Andre ter Stegen having been brought on following Carvajal's dismissal, the Wales forward was unable to spark a comeback.
Instead, late substitute Aleix Vidal added further insult in injury time with a third for Barca, as his shot from inside the box squeezed over the line after Messi's cut-back, despite the Argentine losing his boot in the build-up to his 200th assist for the club.
It is the first time Barca have won three consecutive away league matches at the Bernabeu, and the result leaves Zinedine Zidane's side fourth in the table.
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#ElClasico - RESULT
Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Aleix Vidal scored for Barcelona as the Catalan giants defeated 10-men Real Madrid 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
One week after Madrid added a second successive Club World Cup title to the two Champions League titles won in a row under Frenchman Zidane, any hopes of clawing their way back towards a defence of last year's league title must now be extinguished.
Saturday's match, arranged for a 12:00 GMT kick-off to attract as wide a global TV audience as possible - Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo estimated there would be 650 million viewers - was a chance to narrow the gap on Barca to eight points with victory.
Those watching around the world and the 80,264 fans inside the ground saw the home side start the better, but fail to make their superiority count.
All-time TOP scorer in #ElClasico history (25)
All-time TOP scorer in #ElClasico history at the Bernabeu (15)
All-time TOP scorer against Real Madrid in #LaLiga (17)
LIONEL MESSI.
Inside two minutes Ronaldo nodded in off the crossbar but saw his effort correctly ruled out for offside, before the 2017 Ballon d'Or winner swiped at thin air in the box with his left foot when set up by Toni Kroos.
With Messi tightly marked, it was Paulinho who threatened for Barca, twice drawing good saves from Keylor Navas before Benzema outmuscled Thomas Vermaelen to stoop and head against the base of the post.
After the restart, however, the game followed a markedly different pattern.
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With the half just nine minutes old, Madrid were left horribly exposed after Ivan Rakitic was allowed to run through the heart of a midfield that had been set up with the idea of containing Messi paramount - with roles for Casemiro, Mateo Kovacic, Kroos and Luka Modric.
Rakitic found wing-back Roberto, and Suarez finished the move off crisply for his 10th of the season - before the game's key moment arrived nine minutes later.
After Messi found Suarez with a through pass, the Uruguayan twice had the chance to beat Navas in a one-on-one. He was first denied by the keeper, then saw his shot strike the post.
The perfect Christmas gift!
As the rebound came back, Paulinho lunged to head on goal and Carvajal instinctively trusted his hand to block - Navas would have considered it a fine save.
The Spain defender was shown a straight red card, leaving his side hamstrung in their search for a way back in.
Bale, yet to force his way back in to a regular starting slot following his latest spell out injured, was one of three changes made by Zidane after his side went down to 10.
He perhaps should have been more composed when found free in the box late on, but this victory was a deserved one for Barca.
Ernesto Valverde's side remain unbeaten in the league this season - they have won 14 and drawn three since their 5-1 aggregate defeat by Madrid in the two-legged season-opening Spanish Super Cup in August.
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