Flick backs keeper Szczesny as key player for Barcelona
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny's contribution to the team as the leaders prepare for the visit of mid-table Osasuna in LaLiga on Saturday.
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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny's contribution to the team as the leaders prepare for the visit of mid-table Osasuna in LaLiga on Saturday.
Raphinha struck a second-half winner to give Barcelona a lion-hearted 1-0 victory at Benfica on Wednesday as they overcame a red card for Pau Cubarsi early in the game to steal an advantage in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said he was proud of his players' effort and sacrifice as they earned a 1-0 win at Benfica in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday despite playing most of the game with 10 men.
LISBON: Raphinha claimed Barcelona a 1-0 Champions League last-16 first leg win at Benfica on Wednesday, despite the Catalan giants playing most the game with 10 men. Teenage defender Pau Cubarsi was sent off midway through the first half of the tight clash in Lisbon with the score goalless. Raphinha drilled home after 61 minutes to give five-time winners Barcelona a slim advantage on Bruno Lage’s side ahead of the second leg next Tuesday. Barcelona have not won the competition since 2015 but are expected to go deep this season, after a draw which many consider favorable. Hansi Flick insisted before the game there was no such thing as an “easy” tie and the coach was proven right on a tense evening in the Portuguese capital. Wojciech Szczesny made a smart save to deny Benfica’s Kerem Akturkoglu after just a few seconds, and the opening stages were played in a way that indicated both sides were picking up where they left off in Barcelona’s 5-4 group stage win in Lisbon a few weeks ago. Dani Olmo fired narrowly wide at the other end as Barca threatened, before Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin produced a stunning triple save to keep the score level. The Ukrainian first parried Dani Olmo’s prodded effort, then made a brilliant reaction stop to thwart Robert Lewandowski converting from point-blank range and mopped up Lamine Yamal’s attempt from the rebound. Barcelona were dealt a blow when 18-year-old center-back Pau Cubarsi was sent off after 22 minutes. The Spaniard scythed down Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who scored a hat-trick in the group match, as he ran through on goal. Szczesny saved Orkun Kokcu’s drive from the free-kick, with Flick sacrificing Olmo for defender Ronald Araujo to steady the ship. The Polish
Brussels remained conspicuously silent after Poland doubled down on its refusal to implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which was once described as a "historical" legislative achievement to allow member states to manage the arrival of asylum seekers in collaboration with each other.
Civil and military cooperation on cybersecurity needs beefing up to confront ongoing threats faced by EU member states, Poland’s Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski said at the informal meeting of telecom ministers in Warsaw on Wednesday.
India pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has broken ranks by admitting that playing all their Champions Trophy games at one venue in Dubai has been to their advantage. Shami returned figures of 3-48 to set up India's four-wicket win over Australia in the semi-finals on Tuesday in Dubai. India coach Gautam Gambhir afterwards lashed out at critics who have said playing at the same Dubai International Cricket Stadium each time is unfair.
INDIAN WELLS, California : Australian Open champion Madison Keys believes American women are well positioned to end a 24-year title drought at Indian Wells when the tournament's main draw starts on Wednesday in the California desert.