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ARSENAL FC | 2026 PRE-SEASON FIXTURES

 

REAL MADRID 1-1 GIRONA | ENGLISH DUB POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE

 

FLICK WILL CHANGE BEHAVIOUR 'FOR GRAND CHILDREN '

Hansi Flick won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2020

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick says he does not want his grandchildren to see the behaviour which earned him a red card against Girona on Saturday.

The 60-year-old was shown a yellow card for sarcastically clapping the fourth official when he indicated four minutes of stoppage time, after Barcelona missed chances with the match level.

When substitute Ronald Araujo did turn home a late winner for Barca, Flick joined the home crowd in wild celebrations and was shown a second yellow card for making an obscene gesture.

"I don't like seeing myself in this state on television, and I don't want my grandchildren to see their grandfather like that," Flick said. "So I probably have to change my behaviour."

Speaking at a news conference before Barcelona face Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday, Flick attributed the raised finger for which he was penalised to the depth of feeling he has for the club, which he has managed since May 2024.

Flick was head coach at Bayern Munich when the German side became the first to score eight goals against Barcelona in more than 50 years in 2020, and claims to have been understated on the touchline as his team breezed into a Champions League semi-final.

"I remember when I was coach of Bayern Munich, the footage of the match against Barca showed that I had the same reaction to the first, second and eighth goals," said Flick. "People said I never smiled!

"Right now I'm showing more emotion, it's true, because this club has completely changed me.

"Maybe I should control my impulses, but I love Barca, Barcelona and its people, and that's why I always give my all."

Flick's red card comes with a touchline ban which will confine him to the stands of the Bernabeu as his team play Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday (15:15 BST) - though Barcelona are appealing against the decision.

Barca president Joan Laporta alleged a "white hand" was behind referee Jesus Gil Manzano's officiating against Girona - referring to support for Real Madrid - though Flick himself refused to get drawn into suggestions of officiating bias.

"I had nothing against the referee," he said. "I wasn't complaining at him but he saw it that way and that's something I have to accept it."

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ARSENAL MAKE HISTORY AGAIN BY BEING THE FIRST TEAM EVER TO WIN SIX IN A ROW AGAINST SPANISH SIDES IN UCL/EUROPEAN CUP

 

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IDENTICAL TWINS | GIRONA VS. FEYENOORD

 

The assistant referees for Girona vs. Feyenoord in the Champions League were Marco and Benjamin Zurcher, who are identical twins 😲

- ESPN FC

BALLON D'OR 2024 | TEAM OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

 

EXCLUSIVE | ‘I DON’T BELIEVE IN IT. I THINK IT COULD KILL CHELSEA’ – FRANK LEBOEUF SLAMS MULTI-CLUB OWNERSHIP

As part of our extended interview with Frank Leboeuf, Get French Football News asked the former France international and 1998 World Champion for his thoughts on multi-club ownership and the state of football today.

You played for Strasbourg and then for Chelsea, who are now linked through the BlueCo Group. The Strasbourg fans are very sceptical about this and I wanted to know what you think of multi-club ownership.

For me it raises a big deontological problem – when you see that Manchester City and Girona are the same and if they play each other in the Champions League – well they can’t play each other – Girona would be out of the Champions League – it’s not normal and it’s something that I don’t understand. But there you go, it’s the new system, it’s a financial issue. I think it’s good that Chelsea is close to Strasbourg to help them out financially. But when you’re not close to a club you can’t give your opinion – you don’t know the region, and you don’t know how football works there. Strasbourg is known as “little Marseille” – the club belongs to the locals – it’s their club – it would be like asking Newcastle to do whatever Chelsea want.

You can put money in – no problem – but you can’t be the one making decisions if you don’t know the region, you don’t know how it works. So you need to be really careful because the fans are sceptical, they’re disappointed for the moment because they’re not seeing anything happen. And you get the impression that Chelsea are transferring their issues on to Strasbourg – so no players of experience, only youngsters, only trading business, all about the future and nothing for the present. And that raises issues for me, as neither at Strasbourg nor at Chelsea, will it work for me. I don’t believe in it. I think it could kill Chelsea, it could also lead Strasbourg towards a slow death. So it can bring money in but at some point you need results and if it’s to end up in Ligue 2, or in the Championship for Chelsea, then it won’t do.

And you mentioned City and Girona. The situation is even worse for ESTAC Troyes. Take Savio who is a Troyes player, has never played for them, impresses at Girona and moves to City and Troyes lose out…

Yes, well that’s the system and maybe those in charge at Troyes shouldn’t have accepted it, but then they needed the money. That’s the problem – money. And we have the issue with Ligue 1 and TV rights – I know Vincent Labrune and he’s trying to raise the price but Ligue 1 doesn’t have the attraction because the best players leave for the best Spanish, German or English clubs. We have a problem in terms of the clubs’ tax liability which makes it impossible for them to compete, so they lose all their best players. And this has been going on for 30 years, since the Bosman ruling. I was one of the first examples – as soon as I had the opportunity to leave, I left for Chelsea. By leaving for Chelsea, I earned twice as much money, because it costs as much for Chelsea as it did for Strasbourg – a player costs twice his fee, compared to an English club, in terms of tax. It’s not workable.

It’s a big problem. I saw this week Bielsa talking about how football is becoming more a business than a sport.

Yes, I saw that too. I’m not a fan of Bielsa but I thought what he said was very interesting – the more people watch, the more it becomes a business and the less it’s about the game. I watched Brazil against [Bielsa’s] Uruguay [in the Copa America] and it’s one of the worst matches I’ve watched in my life. I saw players falling over all the time, complaining all the time – it was horrific. I was watching it with Steve McManaman – we’re both here in the US at the moment so we watched it together – and we were saying it’s not possible, how can people pay for tickets to watch this match, it’s horrific, there is no football, there is nothing. It’s just a match with so much at stake that everyone is just playing out their own little drama – it’s no longer football.

Lebeouf was speaking to Get French Football News in association with BoyleSports, who offer the latest Euro 2024 Betting.

- GFFN | Jeremy Smith

ARSENAL INITIATE SURPRISE SIGNING OF LALIGA TOP SCORER, WITH BARGAIN RELEASE CLAUSE TO SEAL DEAL

 Arsenal have turned their attention to Spain in their search for a new striker, with a report claiming LaLiga’s top scorer is now in Edu and Mikel Arteta’s sights.

Arsenal came within a whisker of ending their 20-year wait for a Premier League title last season. Many believe the addition of a 20-goal-per-season striker last summer may have tipped Arsenal over the edge.

Kai Havertz started poorly, though did produce the goods in the second half of the season when primarily deployed as the No 9.

The signing of a new striker may push Havertz out of the striker position, though the classy German has already proven he can make a major impact further back in midfield too.

Arsenal’s quest for a lethal new centre-forward initially took them to Germany upon exploring a move for RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.

However, the Slovenian hitman has elected to remain with Leipzig for one more year at least. A ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between player and club means offers for his services will be entertained in 2025.

Others Arsenal have cast their eye over include Viktor Gyokeres, Joshua Zirkzee, Alexander Isak and Dominic Solanke, to name just four.

ARSENAL STRIKER TARGETS: EVERY option linked for the summer 2024 transfer window

But according to fresh reports out of Spain, a new name can be added to that list.

Arsenal hunting 24-goal Artem Dovbyk

It’s claimed Arsenal are looking into a move for Girona and Ukraine hotshot, Artem Dovbyk.

The 26-year-old left-footer cost around €7m when Girona signed Dovbyk from Dnipro-1 last summer.

Dovbyk emphatically made a mockery of that lowly price tag when finishing as LaLiga’s top scorer with 24 goals in his first season in Spain.

Dovbyk helped fire Girona into third spot and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history. However, whether Dovbyk will be around to participate in the competition remains to be seen.

READ MORE: The key contract details of every Arsenal first-team player: Expiry dates, weekly wages, agents…

Dovbyk release clause could tempt Arsenal

The Ukrainian is reportedly a wanted man at the Emirates and the presence of a release clause can remove Girona from the equation.

Dovbyk can be signed via a €40m/£34m clause in his contract. Such a sum could represent a bargain for any club wishing to take a chance.

Little else was reported on the matter, with Arsenal’s interest seemingly still in the early stages.

Nonetheless, Dovbyk certainly proved he can score at will in a top European league last season and Arsenal have taken the first steps towards bringing him to north London by exploring a move.

Arsenal fans should get a chance to see Dovbyk in action on Monday afternoon when he leads the line for Ukraine in their Euro 2024 opener against Romania.

- Steve Pearson 

MAN CITY MANAGER PEP GUARDIOLA REJECTS IDEA OF BARCELONA RETURN

 

Getty

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has closed the door on a return to Barcelona at any time in the future.

Guardiola, whose contract with City expires in June 2025, hinted in May that next season could be his last at the Etihad.

When asked on Monday if a return to Barça could be on the cards, Guardiola, who guided the Catalan outfit to 14 honours during his four seasons in charge, said: "It's a door that is closed."

The 53-year-old spoke during a news conference at his annual golf tournament, the Legends Trophy, that is being played in Girona, Spain.

"The Barça bench is one of the most complicated because you have to manage many cases. In Manchester everything we do remains inside and at Barça, everything comes out," he said.

The former Barça player coached City to a record fourth-successive Premier League title one year after leading his team to a historic treble.

Barça finished the 2023-24 campaign trophy-less and appointed Hansi Flick as Xavi Hernández's replacement in May. Xavi was dismissed at the end of the season with the club looking for a change in direction.

Xavi took over the Spanish team in November 2021 and was often compared to Guardiola.

Guardiola said of those comparisons: "What is certain is that it's not my fault. That's for sure. I've been 11 or 12 years away from Barcelona. I'm not a suspect in that sense. Ask that to those that have made the comparisons, I haven't. I wish Xavi the best in finding a new challenge."

As for Xavi's successor, Guardiola said he believes Barça are in good hands. Flick, who had been out of work since September 2023 when he was fired by the Germany national team, had previously overseen considerable success at Bayern Munich.

The German manager won the Champions League as part of a treble in 2020 before he took on the Germany job in the summer of 2021.

"I wish him the best of luck in the world," Guardiola said.

"When you arrive at a new club you always need help. You have to try to get help from within and have total support. You have to go little by little. You can't be champion in September or October.

"Hansi is an extraordinary person, who has a lot of desire. A lot. But he needs his time. What he did at Bayern was extraordinary, he won everything."

Barça finished runners-up to Real Madrid in LaLiga, with their rivals adding France star Kylian Mbappé to their already strong roster.

"With or without Mbappé, they are always strong," Guardiola said.

"It's the rival to beat in the Champions [League], without a doubt. Everyone knows that. For all of us that are behind them, it's a motivation to try to beat them. Madrid has always been very strong and they are adding up front a player that has a lot of strength."

- Adriana Garcia

EUROPE'S TOP SOCCER LEAGUES: TITLES, CUP FINALS, UCL, RELEGATION

Manchester United beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final. Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

 The 2023-24 season is almost over with the battles for the major honours, European qualification, relegation and promotion pretty much settled.

Here's a roundup of what has been decided, and what's still at stake, in the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.

Premier League

Season completed

Title

Manchester City were crowned champions for a record-setting fourth consecutive season.

Champions League (4)

CONFIRMED

1. Man City (38 games, 91 points)

2. Arsenal (38, 89)

3. Liverpool (38, 82)

4. Aston Villa (38, 68)

Europa League (2)

Man United beat 2-0 Man City in the FA Cup final (stream a replay on ESPN+, U.S. only) to seal one spot in the Europa League (UEL). The second went to fifth place.

CONFIRMED

FA Cup: Manchester United

5. Tottenham Hotspur (38, 66)

Europa Conference League (1)

CONFIRMED

6. Chelsea (38, 63)

Relegation (3)

RELEGATED

18. Luton Town (38, 26)

19. Burnley (38, 24)

20. Sheffield United (38, 16)

Leicester City and Ipswich Town have been automatically promoted to the Premier League. Southampton beat Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship playoff final (stream a replay on ESPN+, U.S. only) to take the final spot.

LaLiga

Season completed - promotion playoffs to be completed

Title

Real Madrid have been crowned champions.

Champions League (4)

CONFIRMED

1. Real Madrid (38, 95)

2. Barcelona (38, 85)

3. Girona (38, 81)

4. Atlético Madrid (38, 76)

Real Madrid have sealed the LaLiga title. Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Europa League (2)

Athletic won the Copa del Rey and will be in the Europa League, though they will also finish in the first Europa League place in fifth. That means the other UEL place goes to sixth, which Real Sociedad have claimed.

CONFIRMED

5. Athletic Club (38, 68)

6. Real Sociedad (38, 60)

Europa Conference League (1)

Real Betis cannot be overtaken for the final European place.

CONFIRMED

7. Real Betis (38, 57)

Relegation (3)

CONFIRMED

18. Cádiz (38, 33)

19. Almería (38, 21)

20. Granada (38, 21)

Leganes and Real Valladolid have been promoted into the top flight. Eibar, Espanyol, Real Oviedo and Racing Santander will take part in the promotion playoffs.

Bundesliga

Season completed

Title

Bayer Leverkusen won the first championship in their history with a remarkable unbeaten record.

Bayer Leverkusen have already lifted the trophy. (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)

Champions League (5)

The Bundesliga has sealed an extra place through the European Performance Spot, which sends the team in fifth to the UCL too.

CONFIRMED

1. Bayer Leverkusen (34, 90)

2. VfB Stuttgart (34, 73)

3. Bayern Munich (34, 72)

4. RB Leipzig (34, 65)

5. Borussia Dortmund (34, 63)

Europa League (2)

Leverkusen beat second division side Kaiserslautern 1-0 in the final of the DFB Pokal (stream a replay on ESPN+, U.S. only), so both sixth and seventh get a UEL place.

CONFIRMED

6. Eintracht Frankfurt (34, 47)

7. TSG Hoffenheim (34, 46)

Europa Conference League (1)

CONFIRMED

8. Heidenheim (34, 42)

Relegation (2+1)

Two teams are relegated automatically, while third-bottom takes on third place in the 2. Bundesliga in a playoff.

RELEGATION PLAYOFF

16. VfL Bochum (34, 33)

Bochum looked destined to be relegated after losing 3-0 at home to Fortuna Düsseldorf in the first leg ... only for Bochum to win the return leg 3-0 and then secure their top-flight status with a 6-5 penalty-shootout win.

RELEGATED

17. FC Cologne (34, 27)

18. SV Darmstadt 98 (34, 17)

St. Pauli and Holstein Kiel have been automatically promoted into the Bundesliga.

Serie A

Season completed

Title

Internazionale wrapped up the Scudetto as runaway champions.

Inter Milan walked their way to the Scudetto. Getty Images

Champions League (5)

Like Germany, Italy has secured an extra place in next year's competition through its clubs' performance in Europe this season, meaning five clubs have qualified.

CONFIRMED

1. Internazionale (38, 94)

2. AC Milan (38, 75)

3. Juventus (38, 71)

4. Atalanta (38, 69)

5. Bologna (38, 68)

As Atalanta will finish in the top 4, Italy will remain on five places in the Champions League. Had Atalanta finished fifth, then AS Roma in sixth would also have been in the Champions League next season.

Europa League (2)

Juventus won the Coppa Italia, so sixth and seventh will qualify for the UEL.

CONFIRMED

6. AS Roma (38, 63)

7. Lazio (38, 61)

Europa Conference League (1)

CONFIRMED

8. Fiorentina (38, 60)

Relegation (3)

RELEGATED

18. Frosinone (38, 35)

19. Sassuolo (38, 30)

20. Salernitana (38, 17)

Frosinone began the final day in 16th, but they lost to 17th-placed Udinese, and 18-th placed Empoli scored in the 93rd minute to climb out of the drop zone.

Parma and Cesc Fàbregas' Como were promoted to Serie A automatically, while Venezia beat Cremonese in the playoff final.

Ligue 1

Season completed - relegation playoff remains

Title

Paris Saint-Germain secured the title with ease.

Paris Saint-Germain are expected to do the double in France. Aurelien Meunier - PSG/PSG via Getty Images

Champions League (3+1)

France gets three automatic places, with fourth place entering the UCL in the third qualifying round.

Remarkably Brest were in fourth when the games on the final day entered the 90th minute. Brest scored to go level with Lille on points and goal difference, but Lille stayed third on head to head. Then Lille conceded at home in the fourth minute of added time, sending Brest directly into the Champions League group stage.

CONFIRMED

1. Paris Saint-Germain (34, 76)

2. AS Monaco (34, 67)

3. Brest (34, 61)

4. Lille (34, 59)

The UEL places go to fifth and the winners of the Coupe de France -- PSG beat Lyon 2-1 in the final, so the places passes to sixth ... which is Lyon.

CONFIRMED

5. Nice (34, 55)

6. Lyon (34, 53)

Europa Conference League (1)

CONFIRMED

7. Lens (34, 51)

Relegation (2+1)

Two teams are relegated, with third-bottom facing a playoff with a team from the second division to remain in Ligue 1.

RELEGATION PLAYOFF

16. Metz (34, 29)

Metz are relegated after they lost 4-3 on aggregate to Saint-Étienne.

RELEGATED

17. Lorient (34, 29)

18. Clermont Foot (34, 25)

AJ Auxerre and Angers were automatically promoted to Ligue 1.

GIRONA BEATS RAYO VALLECANO TO LEAPFROG BARCELONA INTO SECOND IN LA LIGA

 MADRID (AP) — Girona stepped back into the Spanish title race by defeating Rayo Vallecano 3-0 and moving above Barcelona into second place on Monday.

Girona started the day a point behind its Catalan neighbor but a goal after 52 minutes from Viktor Tsygankov and an injury time double from Sávio took it to within six points of leader Real Madrid.

The result in difficult, rainy conditions ended a run of three games without a win for Girona.

After leading the table for much of the season, Girona faltered in February when it took just one point in nine and was beaten by Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.

However, it slipped back into contention on a miserable night, aided by the sending off of Rayo substitute Pep Chavarría.

Girona led from seven minutes into the second half when David López’s clever pass beat the Rayo offside trap. Miguel Gutiérrez’s cut back was dispatched by Tsygankov.

Chavarría replaced Jorge de Frutos after 64 minutes but he was on his way off again 12 minutes later after committing two bad fouls in two minutes.

Sávio then wrapped up the win with two late goals. The 19-year-old Brazilian cut in from the right wing on both occasions and finished with aplomb.

Rayo is winless in its last seven league games.

UEFA URGED BY FRENCH MINISTER TO PROTECT SOCCER FROM RISKNOF OWNERS INVESTING IN MULTIPLE CLUBS

AP Photo

 PARIS (AP) — European soccer leaders were urged to protect soccer from the risk of owners taking control of multiple clubs, in a speech by France’s sports minister on Thursday.

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra warned the UEFA annual congress of a scenario where “a small number of investors would have control over European football.”

UEFA has longstanding rules monitoring multi-club owners in its competitions, and its in-house researchers warned last year of integrity risks to games on the field and in the player transfer market with about 200 clubs globally in the growing trend. Fans have been concerned their team can be used as a feeder for parent clubs.

“These are threats to our sporting principles and we need to be vigilant to such threats,” Oudéa-Castéra said.

Fans of French club Strasbourg have protested at games in recent weeks against their club’s American owners who have a new much bigger investment in English club Chelsea.

EUROPEAN SOCCER NEWS: GIRONA STUN BARCA, ARSENAL WOMEN BEAT CHELSEA

 

Girona were brilliant and fearless in beating Barcelona away from home to take themselves top of LaLiga once again. Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images 

As the final weeks of 2023 come to a close and as we hope to see some more drama and excitement occur into the new year, there is still have some business to get sorted as we wrap up another weekend of the best action across Europe.

On Sunday, Girona sank Barcelona 4-2 in an enthralling game at Olympic Stadium to show that Míchel & Co. are very much in the title race from here, while Manchester City had to fight from behind to get a win at lowly Luton Town. Elsewhere, Arsenal Women downed Chelsea Women in a gripping clash to keep the WSL title race interesting, and how about Everton, eh? Another win for Sean Dyche's side -- this time over Chelsea -- keeps them surging up the table in defiance of their 10-point penalty.

On Saturday, Liverpool took top spot in the Premier League, Jude Bellingham scored again as Real Madrid salvaged a point vs. Real Betis, and Eintracht Frankfurt put five past a stunned Bayern Munich.

Here is your look back at all the fun from the weekend.

BARCELONA 2-4 GIRONA | HIGHLIGHTS | 🔥

 

FÉLIX GIVES ATLETICO MADRID FANS ANOTHER REASON NOT TO LIKE HIM BY SCORING WINNER FOE BARCELONA

AP Photo 

MADRID (AP) — João Félix has given Atletico Madrid fans even more reason not to like him.

Playing on loan from Atletico after falling out with the club last season — and highly unlikely to return — Felix scored with a neat shot over goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the 28th minute to give Barcelona a 1-0 home victory on Sunday and move the Catalan team closer to the top of the Spanish league standings.

“It was a relief after everything that I went through last summer,” said Félix, who was still with Atletico when he upset fans by saying his dream was to play for Barcelona. “Only those close to me know what it was like, especially my family. This was for them.”

The victory put Barcelona back within four points of leaders Girona and Real Madrid, which won their matches on Saturday. Madrid beat Granada 2-0 and Girona defeated Valencia 2-1.

Atletico, winless in its last 18 away matches against Barcelona in the league, dropped to fourth place, three points behind Barcelona in third but with a game in hand.

It was the fourth win in four matches between Barcelona's coach Xavi Hernández and Atletico's Diego Simeone.

VINÍCIUS, RODRYGO LEAD MADRID'S 5-1 ROUT OF VALENCIA | GIRONA STAY ON TOP WITH 2-1 COMEBACK WIN AT RAYO

AP Photo 

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Míchel Sánchez soaked up the applause after his Girona team, the surprise leader of the Spanish league, won again on Saturday.

This time, however, the cheers came from Rayo Vallecano fans following Girona’s 2-1 comeback win.

Girona stayed two points ahead of Real Madrid, which routed Valencia 5-1 with Brazilians Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo getting two goals each.

Míchel played most of his career as a midfielder for Rayo, and he returned as a coach for the modest Madrid-based club. The Rayo faithful greeted him with signs bearing his name and chants of “Míchel! Míchel!”

SPANISH MIDFIELDER ROMEU RETURNS TO BARCELONA ON THREE-YEAR DEAL

Reuters 

Barcelona has re-signed former academy player Oriol Romeu from Girona with the midfielder signing a three-year deal, the LaLiga champions said on Wednesday.

Romeu came through Barca's youth academy and made his senior team debut in 2010 before moving to Chelsea a year later. The 31-year-old also had loan spells at Valencia and Stuttgart before spending seven years at Southampton.

He spent a year at Girona where he was a crucial figure clocking up more than 3,000 minutes to guide them to 10th before making his return to Barca, with 20-year-old midfielder Pablo Torre moving the other way on loan.