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Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final

LONDON: Liverpool can win the first trophy of the Arne Slot era in Sunday’s League Cup final against a Newcastle side desperate to end the club’s 56-year wait for major silverware. In the first final of the English domestic season, runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool head to Wembley aiming to erase the bitter taste of their Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. The Reds were beaten 4-1 on penalties by PSG in the last 16 second leg at Anfield. It was a rare blow in what has been a successful first season in charge for Slot, who arrived from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp last year. Sitting 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, the Reds are within touching distance of a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020. That will be the culmination of Slot’s seamless transition to life with Liverpool. But first the Dutchman has his sights set on putting yet another League Cup in the Anfield trophy cabinet. Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in last season’s final, have won the League Cup a record 10 times and are looking to lift the trophy for a third time in four years. “You play games like this to win it, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” said Slot, who will be without injured right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. “We’re really looking forward to it because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams.” Slot, who will be making his first ever visit to Wembley, hopes Liverpool can recover quickly from having their treble bid shattered by PSG. “It’s a great occasion to be in and especially after losing against Paris Saint-Germain.

Real's Ancelotti vows no more matches with less than 72 hours rest

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team will no longer play matches after less than 72 hours' rest because of the physical strain it puts on players.

Sabalenka to face teen Andreeva in Indian Wells final

INDIAN WELLS: Aryna Sabalenka avenged her Australian Open loss to Madison Keys, thrashing the American 6-0, 6-1 to book an Indian Wells title showdown with teen sensation Mirra Andreeva.

Real Madrid to refuse playing without 72 hours between games - ESPN

Real Madrid escalated their complaints over scheduling on Saturday, with the club's official TV channel confirming the team will refuse to play in future if their players aren't given a minimum 72 hours' rest between matches.

Atletico must move on from Champions League injustice, Simeone says

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone acknowledged feelings of frustration and injustice following his team's painful Champions League loss to Real Madrid but urged the club to move on ahead of Sunday’s LaLiga home match against Barcelona.

Barca’s Flick demands ‘focus’ ahead of crunch Atletico clash

BARCELONA: Hansi Flick warned his Barcelona stars they need to focus to avoid crumbling against Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga as they have in their previous two meetings this season. Leaders Barcelona are a point ahead of Diego Simeone’s Atletico, third, going into the huge title clash at the Metropolitano stadium in the Spanish capital. Barcelona led against Atletico in the first league match in December but Rodrigo De Paul levelled for the visitors and Alexander Sorloth hit a 96th minute winner which helped them usurp the Catalans at the top of the table. Then in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg Barcelona let in two goals in the first six minutes and two late goals, including another Sorloth stoppage time strike in a wild 4-4 draw. “I think we have had really two great matches and of course we have to be focussed from begninning to the end of the match,” Flick told reporters Saturday. “I think in the first match, at the end of the match we were not so focussed like we can be, and also the second match was (the same) in the beginning and also at the end, so we have to take care about that. “When you make mistakes Atletico can hurt you and this is what we have to defend against.” Atletico Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday on penalties by rivals Real Madrid, while Barcelona beat Benfica to reach the quarter-finals. Former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez scored a penalty in the shoot-out for Atletico which was controversially disallowed because he may have touched the ball twice when he slipped as he took it. “It was an unlucky situation, I feel for him, he’s one of the best strikers,” said Flick, adding that it was “not a problem” for Atletico to have played 120 minutes

Bayern held at Union Berlin to leave title door ajar

BERLIN: Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday, giving defending champions Bayer Leverkusen an outside chance of dragging themselves back into the Bundesliga title race. Bayern, who also dropped points in a surprise loss at home to Bochum last week, could be just six points ahead if Leverkusen win at Stuttgart on Sunday. Bayern had most of the ball but struggled to break through a resolute Union defense. With few chances in the opening period, Bayern’s best chance came after 51 minutes when Harry Kane drilled a free-kick through the wall but into the palms of Frederik Ronnow. Leroy Sane put the visitors ahead after 75 minutes when he skated through a crowded penalty area to tap in a Josip Stanisic pass. Union were however the better team after the goal and the hosts levelled through Benedict Hollerbach, who was on the spot to take advantage of an error from rookie goalkeeper Jonas Urbig. Union rose in intensity in the dying stages but were unable to land the killer blow which would have seen them beat Bayern for the first time in their history, on their 12th attempt. Despite hovering dangerously close to the relegation spots for much of the season, Union have a strong record at home against the league’s best sides. Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz, Freiburg and now Bayern have all left Berlin without winning. Unlikely Champions League candidates Mainz and Freiburg drew 2-2 draw.

Man City held by Brighton to leave Champions League hopes in balance

MANCHESTER: Manchester City twice blew the lead in a 2-2 draw against Brighton on Saturday as Abdukodir Khusanov’s own goal dented their bid to qualify for the Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s side led through Erling Haaland’s early penalty at the Etihad Stadium. But Pervis Estupinan hauled Brighton level and, although Omar Marmoush restored City’s lead just before the interval, the Seagulls levelled again in the second half thanks to Khusanov’s mistake. City remain in fifth place in the Premier League, one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who visit Arsenal on Sunday, and one point ahead of Newcastle and seventh-placed Brighton. The top four are guaranteed a Champions League place, while fifth is also likely to be enough depending on the result of the English clubs remaining in European competitions this term. Reduced to fighting for a Champions League berth after a shockingly bad season, City are still far from certain to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition. That would have been unthinkable just 12 months ago, when City were marching toward a fourth consecutive English title and a sixth in seven years. Since losing 7-0 at Nottingham Forest, Brighton had reeled off four consecutive league wins and this was another impressive display from Fabian Hurzeler’s side, who still harbor genuine hopes of reaching the Champions League for the first time. Guardiola made four changes from the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Matheus Nunes were replaced by Marmoush, Ilkay Gundogan, Stefan Ortega and Rico Lewis. City won a penalty in the 11th minute when Haaland found Marmoush in the Brighton area and the Egyptian was brought down by Adam Webster. Haaland took the spot-kick, firing

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Barcelona Sport News

Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final

Real's Ancelotti vows no more matches with less than 72 hours rest

Sabalenka to face teen Andreeva in Indian Wells final

Real Madrid to refuse playing without 72 hours between games - ESPN

Atletico must move on from Champions League injustice, Simeone says

Barca’s Flick demands ‘focus’ ahead of crunch Atletico clash

Bayern held at Union Berlin to leave title door ajar

Man City held by Brighton to leave Champions League hopes in balance