LAMINE YAMAL SENDS EPIC MESSAGE TO BARCELONA FANS AHEAD OF COPA DEL REY TIE AGAINST ATLÉTICO

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 28: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Spotify Camp Nou on February 28, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Getty Images

Lamine Yamal is feeling good and already looking forward to facing Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey in midweek after scoring his first Barcelona hat-trick against Villarreal.

Barcelona head into the second leg of their semi-final tie at Camp Nou already 4-0 down and with a mountain to climb. However, Yamal is simply refusing to give up hope. He took to social media after the game with a post that reads: “1% chance, 99% faith.”

Yamal also had a few words about the match afterwards, telling the media: “It was time to react and push. We are doing it. Now let me tell our fans… …come to the stadium against Atléti, the magic can happen.”

Eric Garcia is backing Yamal to deliver the goods against Atletico. He shared his thoughts afterwards saying, “We are lucky that he plays for our team, Lamine’s performance has been incredible, he could even have saved one or two goals for Tuesday.”

Let’s hope he has saved a few goals for Tuesday night as Barca face a huge task trying to turn the tie around.

- Barca Blaugranes

BARCELONA PLAYERS FIRE BACK AT HEAD COACH HANSI FLICK IN TENSE TRAINING GROUD MEETING AFTER ATLETICO MADRID DEBACLE

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Barcelona's players shared their concerns with manager Hansi Flick about his tactics in the wake of their 4-0 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. The result leaves the Blaugrana with a mountain to climb ahead of the second leg of the tie at Camp Nou in March, and the players have called on the manager to make changes to his system.

Barcelona battered by Atletico

Barcelona have been in impressive form again this season under Hansi Flick, topping the table in La Liga, qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League and beating Real Madrid to lift the Spanish Super Cup in January. However, their hopes of retaining the Copa del Rey unravelled on Thursday night as they were beaten 4-0 by Atletico in the first leg of their semi-final. Diego Simeone's side ruthlessly exposed Flick's infamous high line and gave the Catalans a tough time. A difficult night for the club was compounded by a Pau Cubarsi goal being ruled out for offside after an eight-minute VAR delay, while Eric Garcia was sent off late on as Flick's side finished the game with 10 men.

Tension on the training ground

The result led to some soul searching on the training ground the following day, according to The Athletic. Flick had his say and questioned the players' mentality and intensity, while there was also criticism of the coach. Barcelona stars revealed their concerns to their manager about his tactics, claiming his high line "was not the best idea, as conditions were not right for that in their eyes". The players feel it's incredibly hard to apply his style when key players such as Raphinha and Pedri are absent. Both players were ruled out of the match due to injury and were badly missed by Flick's side. While Barcelona's players do not want to abandon Flick's approach, they do want "more pragmatism around key games and against certain opponents, as well as greater adaptation to the players available".

Flick admits Barca taught a lesson

Flick spoke about his team's defeat after the game and admitted Barca had been taught a lesson by Atletico. He told reporters: "We didn't play very good in the first half as a team. We had too much distance between everyone. We didn't press how we wanted. In the first 45 minutes or more, we got a lesson. Sometimes it's good in the right moment. Maybe today was the right moment. I am still proud of my team, maybe not today in the first 45 minutes, but across the whole season. When you see how many injuries we have all season, how we adapt...Today was a heavy loss but I am proud of my team. We will come back. We need to start from the beginning [of games]. When you see Atlético players, they had more will, more hunger. And this is what I want from the first minute. We didn't show that in the first half. We have the second leg. We will fight for that. If we are able to win each half 2-0, this is our goal. We need our fans in Camp Nou and we will see what happens."

Controversy over disallowed goal

Barcelona have also been left furious by the decision to disallow Cubarsi's goal after a farcically long VAR delay. The defender netted early in the second half and his strike would have made it 4-1,  giving Barca hope of trying to find a way back into the game. The lengthy delay was due to the failure of the semi-automated offside technology, forcing VAR officials to draw the lines manually. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong did not hold back in his criticism of the situation. He said: "In the offside photo, you can't even see the contact with the ball at the moment Fermin shoots. Later, another image came out where it was clear the defender was a meter behind Lewandowski. This is very strange, it’s a scandal."

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What comes next?

The second leg of the tie is not due to take place until March 3, giving Flick plenty of time to get his injured players back. In the meantime, the German coach will hope to see a response from his players on Monday when they resume their title challenge away at Girona.

- Gill Clark

COPA DEL REY | MOST WINNERS

 

LIONEL MESSI REVEALS HIS FAVOURITE CAREER GOAL AND IT IS PURE BARCELONA PLAY

Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Lionel Messi has scored over 800 goals in a career packed with brilliance, magic, and jaw-dropping moments, but the Barcelona legend has now revealed which one stands out above the rest, and it might surprise some fans. 

In a recent interview, the Inter Miami forward admitted that his favourite goal ever is not one of his signature solo runs or curling finishes, but a header. Yes, a header, and one that sealed a historic night for Barça.

“I had many goals that are perhaps even more beautiful and of a lot of value, because of the importance as well, but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United was always my favourite,” Messi explained as quoted by SPORT.

Relive the header

That goal came on May 27, 2009, in Rome, during the UEFA Champions League final. It was a rare sight for a player known more for weaving through defenders than leaping above them. 

Lionel Messi scored a rare headed goal against Manchester United. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Yet, in the 70th minute, Messi latched onto a stunning cross from Xavi Hernández and launched himself into the air. Despite being just 1.70m tall, he outjumped defenders and sent a looping header over the towering Edwin van der Sar. 

It was Messi’s only headed goal in a Champions League final, and what a time to do it. The strike sealed a 2-0 victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and capped off a legendary season for Barcelona under Pep Guardiola. 

That 2008–09 campaign saw Barça win the treble, La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, making them the first Spanish club to ever achieve that feat.

For all the thunderous free-kicks, magical dribbles, and impossible angles Messi has conquered, his favourite goal remains a reminder of what Barcelona stood for at their peak: precision, unity, and brilliance. 

And at the heart of it, a little Argentine who rose above it all, bootless and fearless.

- Swapnil Bhopatkar

BARCELONA EDGE REAL MADRID IN EXTRA-TIME TO WIN WILD COPA DEL REY FINAL

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde struck deep in extra-time to decide a gripping Copa del Rey Clasico final on Saturday in Seville, earning his side a 3-2 win over rivals Real Madrid

Team Barcelona wins the Copa Del Rey title© AFP

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde struck deep in extra-time to decide a gripping Copa del Rey Clasico final on Saturday in Seville, earning his side a 3-2 win over rivals Real Madrid. The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, won the first major trophy of Hansi Flick's reign as coach and a record-extending 32nd Spanish cup in dramatic fashion. Pedri sent Barcelona ahead at La Cartuja but two Real Madrid goals in seven second-half minutes, from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, pulled the Spanish and European champions level.

However, Ferran Torres struck in the 84th minute to take the game to extra-time and Kounde drilled home to win it for the La Liga leaders.

"It was a good time to bring joy to our fans -- we have to enjoy it but without forgetting the Champions League semis are coming," Torres told La 1. Barca host Inter Milan on Wednesday.

"They can make a party -- for today, it's OK," a delighted Flick, who has won all seven finals he has coached in his career, told Movistar.

Substituted Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was sent off in the final seconds for appearing to throw an object onto the pitch towards the referee, and Lucas Vazquez, also replaced, was dismissed for further protest as Madrid unravelled.

"I don't want to talk about the referee," said stone-faced Madrid coach Ancelotti.

"I don't know what happened at the end."

Madrid started with top scorer Mbappe on the bench after an ankle injury and lost Ferland Mendy early on with a thigh issue.

Ancelotti sent on Fran Garcia to take over the job of shackling Barcelona's dazzling teenage winger Lamine Yamal.

The 17-year-old Spain star, who dyed his hair blond for the game, led the assault on Thibaut Courtois' goal.

The Catalans, who won the first two Clasicos this season in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, scoring nine goals in the process, controlled the ball.

They took the lead after 28 minutes, Pedri placing the ball into the top corner with precision and power from the edge of the box.

It was a sensational goal, starting with a smart Pau Cubarsi interception in his own half, before Pedri spread the play to Yamal, who teed him up once the Canary Islander reached the area.

Barcelona's opener brought Madrid out of their shell -- and also Mbappe off the bench to warm up.

The excellent Jude Bellingham netted but was offside. Vinicius Junior would have won a penalty as Inigo Martinez hacked him down but had also strayed off in the build-up.

Barcelona could have doubled their lead, with Dani Olmo's corner hitting the post and Cubarsi unable to turn home as Dani Ceballos held him back.

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea was lenient with some heated Madrid tackles, perhaps cowed by Friday's drama as the Spanish champions seethed at his pre-match comments denouncing attacks on officials by the club's television channel.

Madrid sent Mbappe on for Rodrygo Goes at half-time and soon he and Vinicius began to work Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

End to end

Mbappe pulled Madrid level almost on his own in the 70th minute.

The striker surged forward and was brought down on the edge of the box. He then fired the free-kick home off the post.

Seven minutes later Madrid took the lead, Tchouameni heading Arda Guler's corner past the helpless Szczesny.

Barcelona responded when Yamal played a delicious pass over the top for Torres, which drew both Rudiger and Courtois, but the Spaniard pipped both to the ball and rolled home.

Controversy unsurprisingly reared its head before the match headed to extra-time.

Barcelona clamoured for a penalty when Rudiger appeared to fell Torres, and then were awarded one deep in stoppage time as Raphinha tumbled under pressure from Raul Asencio.

However the referee, called to review the incident by VAR, overturned his decision.

In extra-time Barcelona were ascendent.

They found their winner when Kounde intercepted an uncharacteristically loose Luka Modric pass and beat Courtois from range, sparking wild celebrations.

Rudiger's dismissal and Madrid's pre-match histrionics regarding the officials will ensure the repercussions run on. The teams meet again in La Liga in May in a potential title decider.

- Agence France-Presse

HIGHLIGHTS | COPA DEL REY FINAL | BARCELONA 3-2 REAL MADRID

 

SAMUEL ETO'O IS THE ONLY PLAYER IN HISTORY TO WIN TREBLE WITH TWO DIFFERENT CLUBS

 

Samuel Eto'o is the only player in HISTORY to win the treble with two different clubs in two consecutive seasons 🏆🥹🇨🇲

COPA DEL REY | SEMI-FINAL

COPA DEL RAY SEMI-FINAL DRAW: BARCELONA BECOMES FINAL SEMI-FINALIST; DATE AND TIME FOR DRAW REVEALED

Barcelona defeated Valencia to secure the final spot in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, joining Real Madrid in the last four stage. With the lineup now complete, all eyes turn to the upcoming semi-final draw. Here’s when and where the Copa del Rey semi-final draw will take place.

Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yama scored as Barcelona thumped Valencia. Image: AP

Barcelona crushed Valencia 5-0 with Ferran Torres scoring a hat-trick as the La Blaugrana on Thursday became the fourth and final team to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Besides Torres, Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal also scored a goal each at the Mestalla as the record 31-time Spanish Cup winners stayed on course for another trophy.

Real Sociedad also advanced to the Copa del Rey semi-finals on the same day with a 2-0 win over Osasuna, who had Alejandro Catena sent off. The other two teams in the last four round are Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

Copa del Rey semi-final draw

Before we bring you match reports from Barcelona and Real Sociedad games, let’s take a look at when the Copa del Rey semi-final draw will take place.

The Copa del Rey semi-final draw will take place on 12 February (Wednesday) at the office of the Spanish Football Federation. The draw will take place at 1 pm CET (5.30 pm IST; 7 am ET).

The semi-finals will be played over two legs. The first legs will take place on 25,26 or 27 February with the return legs happening on 1,2 or 3 April.

How Barcelona defeated Valencia 

Ferran Torres hit a hat-trick as Barcelona routed Valencia 5-0 on Thursday to cruise into the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal were also on target for the record 31-time Spanish Cup winners as they swaggered to victory at an upset Mestalla stadium.

Earlier Real Sociedad progressed with a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-man Osasuna, joining Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in a strong final four.

Former Valencia forward Torres took the plaudits with his treble inside 30 minutes, taking full advantage of Barca coach Hansi Flick’s decision to rest striker Robert Lewandowski.

“We thought that it would be a very difficult game, because here at Mestalla is always a hard ground to play,” Torres told TVE.

“We had the luck that we scored goals early and in the end that sunk them.”

The Spaniard netted in the third minute, running onto a fine Alejandro Balde through ball and finishing clinically against his former side.

Torres netted the second after 17 minutes when teenage winger Yamal’s shot bounced off the post back into his path.

Lopez put Barcelona three up midway through the first half with a well-timed run expertly found by Pedri Gonzalez, rounding goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski and tucking home.

Torres completed his hat-trick after half-an-hour with an accurate low finish after Raphinha teed him up on the edge of the box.

The former Manchester City winger’s bright display offered food for thought, with Barcelona scoring at least five goals in the last four games where veteran Polish striker Lewandowski has not started.

Some Valencia fans started leaving the Mestalla stadium in anger, a constant theme around the club with owner Peter Lim criticised by supporters with chants and banners.

This was Valencia’s second thrashing at Barca’s hands in the space of two weeks, after the Catalans triumphed 7-1 at home in La Liga.

‘Suffer like this’ 

Valencia had a rare moment of cheer at the start of the second half when Umar Sadiq found the net but the goal was ruled out for offside.

The gangly Nigerian striker then won a penalty but that too was scrapped after he was shown to be offside again in the build-up.

At the other end Yamal struck the post again but this time the ball flew out and to safety for Valencia.

The 17-year-old Spain star got his goal eventually with a low effort which took a small deflection and beat Dimitrievski, who could still have kept it out.

“I’m really happy with the team, how they played, we created chances and scored them from the beginning and that helped us a lot,” Flick told TVE.

“(Attacking) is the style we want to play in, you know the hunger the team has to go for the next goal… it’s a young team and they focus on scoring goals.”

Valencia are 19th in La Liga, four points from safety and Torres said he hoped they could survive in the top flight.

“I hope Valencia save themselves because in the end I’m just another fan,” added the forward.

“It’s hard to see the club of your youth and your life suffer like this, they’re really going through it.”

Valencia coach Carlos Corberan said his team had been left hurt by the defeat.

“It’s a very tough loss, especially hard because we feel the same as we did after the league game, but in front of our fans at Mestalla,” he said.

“We have to give a better account of ourselves… the fans deserve a lot more than what we have been capable of.”

In San Sebastian Ander Barrenetxea and Brais Mendez struck for hosts Real Sociedad before Osasuna had Alejandro Catena sent off for a wild challenge after 35 minutes.

Osasuna beat the same opposition 2-1 in La Liga on Sunday but Catena’s dismissal effectively ended any hope of mounting a comeback.

La Real reached the Copa semi-finals for the third time in six seasons, last winning in the 2020 edition.

- FP Sports

ATHLETIC BILBAO BEAT MALLORCA ON PENALTIES TO WIN FIRST COPA DEL REY IN 40 UEARS

 SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — After four decades and a half dozen finals that ended in defeat, Athletic Bilbao was able to lift a cathartic Copa del Rey trophy No. 24 after edging Mallorca 4-2 on penalties on Saturday.

The team from northern Spain was favored entering the final thanks to its up-tempo attack, but instead it had to grind out a win against the modest Mallorca to finally deliver for its long suffering fans.

Athletic goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala saved a penalty by Manuel Morlanes, while Mallorca’s Nemanja Radonjic shot high. Raul García, Iker Muniain, Mikel Vesga, and Alejandro Berenguer — all substitutes — converted their spot kicks past Mallorca goalkeeper Dominik Greif.

Extra time in the final ended 1-1 after Dani Rodríguez gave Mallorca the lead in the 21st minute and Athletic’s Oihan Sancet leveled in the 50th.

Muniain received the trophy from Spanish King Felipe VI before lifting it high for his team and fans to celebrate.

“This is incredible. Our fans have always been behind us and now it is time to enjoy this,” Athletic forward Nico Williams said. “We have been fighting for this for a long time.”

Athletic won its 23rd and last Copa in 1984. Since then it had lost six straight finals, including in 2020 and 2021. To win this one, it had to first beat both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the quarter- and semi-finals.

“Now it is time to celebrate. We sure make it hard for ourselves to hold a party, it took us 40 years, but now we are going to do just that,” said Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde.

“Considering all the finals we have lost, and what the Copa means to Athletic, nothing compares to this.”

The club is expected to celebrate the trophy by parading the team on a barge in the river that runs through Bilbao, a victory tradition that it has not carried out in four decades.

While other teams will often prioritize the Spanish league and rest starters in the cup, especially in the early rounds, Athletic prioritizes the knockout tournament despite fielding players only from or near Spain’s Basque Country region. Only Barcelona and its 31 Copas has more than Athletic.

NBA great Steve Nash, a minority owner of Mallorca, was at the game, as well as Rafael Nadal, a native of the island of Mallorca. Each club had 20,000 tickets for traveling fans at the packed 57,000-seat La Cartuja Stadium. Some 40,000 more fans, mostly for Athletic, were expected to descend on Seville without tickets.

Even though Athletic is fifth in the Spanish league and Mallorca down in 15th place, there was little difference between them in the final. Javier Aguirre, Mallorca’s journeyman coach, succeeded in nullifying the more explosive attack of Valverde’s Athletic.

“The first thing I have to do is to congratulate Athletic and its fans. They have been waiting a long time for this,” Mallorca scorer Rodríguez said. “I am moved because I am very proud of my teammates and our supporters who accompanied us. Our dream was to win this cup. We tried to, but it wasn’t to be.”

Athletic was unable to stop Mallorca from getting three consecutive shots in its area after a corner kick before Rodríguez opened the scoring. The midfielder curled a shot into the corner of the net after Antonio Raíllo controlled a rebound and laid the ball off for his open teammate.

Athletic took time to finally click in attack, and when it did most of the damage was done by Williams. The Spain winger had a goal waived off for offside before he shot into the side netting in first-half injury time. Grief also saved an early shot by Iñigo Galarreta, while Gorka Guruzeta shot wide.

Canada forward Cyle Larin had an opportunity to double Mallorca’s lead seconds after halftime, but Agirrezabala saved his effort on the break.

Williams helped produce Sancet’s equalizer when he recovered the ball and fed a throughball to the midfielder to beat Greif.

But Sancet’s goal did not fluster Mallorca’s defense, which again clamped down after Aguirre refreshed his side with substitutes.

After a long stalemate without any clear chance, Williams had a point-blank shot that grazed Mallorca defender Pablo Maffeo and hit the post.

Vedat Muriqi then had a header parried by Agirrezabala on the other end as the game finally came alive before going to the shootout.

Muriqi and Antonio Sánchez converted their kicks in the shootout for Mallorca.

“It was a wonderful Copa del Rey that did not have a happy ended,” Aguirre said. “It came down to penalties, which we know is a coin toss. We got so close before falling short.”

The final, which is one of the marquee events organized by the Spanish soccer federation, was played with the federation in crisis after Spanish police made seven arrests and raided properties including the federation headquarters in Madrid as part of a corruption and money laundering probe. Those arrests included current federation employees and former federation president Luis Rubiales.

UNDER FIRE XAVI TO LEAVE BARCA AT THE END OF THE SEASON

Xavi Hernández took over as Barcelona coach in November 2021 after Ronald Koeman's sacking. Photo by David S.Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

 Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season after Saturday's 5-3 defeat to Villarreal at the Olympic Stadium.

The pressure had been rising on Xavi throughout January after a string of disappointing results, including a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa final and Wednesday's 4-2 loss against Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.

Xavi, who only recently penned a new deal until 2025, says he made the decision before the Villarreal game, but that now is the right moment to make it official.

"I would like to announce that I will not remain Barça manager beyond the end of this season," Xavi confirmed in a news conference.

"I had decided to leave a few days ago, but I think now is the right time to announce it to help reduce the tension that exists around the club. A change of dynamic is needed.

"So, as a Barça fan, thinking of the club's best interests, and of the players, I think it's the right decision. No one is bigger than the club and I am a supporter above all. I love this club."

REAL MADRID ADVANCE IN COPA DEL REY AS GÜLER MAKES DEBUT

Real Madrid easily handled fourth-division club Arandina 3-1 and moved into the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

Joselu, Brahim Díaz and Rodrygo scored for the defending Copa champions, who also finally debuted young Turkey international Arda Güler after a series of injuries.

Real Madrid dominated, controlled possession and didn't allow Arandina to threaten much until they were given a late own-goal by Madrid defender Nacho Fernández.

FOURTH DIVISION BARBASTRO ELIMINATES ALMERIA IN 2ND ROUND OF COPA DEL REY

MADRID (AP) — Fourth-division club Barbastro upset struggling La Liga team Almeria 1-0 on Wednesday in the second round of the Copa del Rey.

Franc Carbonell scored in the 28th minute to put the small club from northeastern Spain into the next round.

The result added to Almeria's woes this season. The Saudi-owned club has only one victory in 17 matches in all competitions — against third-division club Talavera in the previous Copa round.

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