Barcelona begin La Liga title defence with win at Mallorca
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha both find the net in Barcelona’s 3-0 La Liga win at Mallorca, who had two players sent off. Barcelona began the defence of its La Liga title with a comfortable 3-0 win at Mallorca, scoring early and taking advantage of two first-half red cards for the hosts. Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, who led Barcelona’s prolific attack last season, needed only seven minutes to impress again on Saturday. Yamal’s curling cross found Raphinha by the far post, and the Brazil forward headed in from close range. Ferran Torres’s shot from outside the area in the 23rd was a goal that drew complaints from Mallorca because one of its players was on the ground after being hit by the ball in the head in the buildup. Some Mallorca players stopped playing after their teammate went down, but the referee allowed play to continue. Mallorca immediately complained after Ferran scored. The host went a man down 10 minutes later when Manu Morlanes was sent off for a second yellow card for fouling Yamal on the run. His first yellow was for protesting Barcelona’s second goal. The second red card in the 39th came from Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi hitting the head of Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García with his left foot while reaching up for a high ball. The referee changed the card from yellow to red after a video review. Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Raphinha heads the ball to score the opening goal at Mallorca [Jamie Reina/AFP] Yamal made it 3-0 in second-half stoppage time by hitting the top corner. Barcelona, which won the league last season after scoring 102 goals, was without veteran striker Robert Lewandowski because of an injury. Newly signed forward Marcus Rashford went in as a substitute in the 69th. Advertisement New Barcelona goalkeeper García did not have to work much in his Barcelona debut after being signed in the offseason in a transfer from city rival Espanyol. Regular starting goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is out after undergoing lower back surgery, and García started ahead of Wojciech Szczesny and Iñaki Peña, who replaced Ter Stegen last season. Later Saturday, Valencia hosted Real Sociedad and promoted Levante visited Alaves. On Friday, Rayo Vallecano won at Girona 3-1, and Villarreal defeated promoted Oviedo 2-0. Atletico Madrid is at Espanyol on Sunday, while Real Madrid hosts Osasuna on Tuesday. Adblock test (Why?)
Lionel Messi scores as Inter Miami wins late against LA Galaxy
The Argentinian superstar returns from injury to score a goal and add an assist as Inter downs Galaxy at Chase Stadium. Lionel Messi returned from injury as a reserve and scored in the 84th minute to lead Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over the defending Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup champions, Los Angeles Galaxy. The iconic 38-year-old Argentinian striker was back on the field on Saturday for Miami after suffering what Inter coach Javier Mascherano had called a “minor muscle injury” – an apparent hamstring strain – in Inter’s Leagues Cup victory over Mexican side Necaxa on August 2. “It had been something very small,” Mascherano said of his injury after the match. “The three training sessions we had were good. The important thing is that the match ended. As the minutes went by, I saw him better. We have to see how he feels tomorrow.” Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who missed a Leagues Cup win over Pumas UNAM and last weekend’s MLS loss at Orlando City, was on the bench as a reserve before entering in the second half, replacing Telasco Segovia. “We had planned the match to give minutes to Leo [Messi]. The idea was to give him 45 minutes so that he can find sensations,” Mascherano said. “I didn’t see him after the game. Tomorrow, we’ll see what feelings he had. “He’s an extraordinary player. I saw that he was clearly not 100 percent comfortable, but as the minutes went by, he was loosening up more and more. We will have to see how he ended with the fatigue.” Jordi Alba scored for Miami in the 43rd minute, but Joseph Paintsil equalised for the Galaxy in the 59th minute. Messi takes a shot and scores his team’s second goal against LA Galaxy at Chase Stadium [Chandan Khanna/AFP] Messi dominates late Messi’s brilliant goal six minutes from full-time – a thunderous left foot strike fired from the edge of the penalty area that caromed off the bottom corner of the net – restored the lead for Miami. Advertisement He then put the victory beyond doubt with a sensational 89th-minute assist to teammate Luis Suarez, who put the home side ahead 3-1. Messi, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player, has 19 goals and 10 assists in 19 MLS appearances for Miami this season. He also has the Herons into the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup, which they won in 2023, just after Messi’s arrival. Miami will play the Tigres in a Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday. “He wants to play every single game,” Mascherano said. “You have to understand why Leo is Leo. He always wants to be on the pitch. He’s happy there. Sometimes, we try to explain him that we have to go slowly, but when he feels good, he knows himself like no one. In the end, we tried to give him some minutes today to start having good feelings for Wednesday.” Inter Miami rank fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference, six points behind MLS leaders Philadelphia, but with three matches in hand. Messi, left, celebrates with teammate Luis Suarez after Inter Miami went ahead 3-1 in the 89th minute [Chandan Khanna/AFP] Adblock test (Why?)
Manchester United vs Arsenal: Premier League – teams, start, lineups
Who: Manchester United vs ArsenalWhat: English Premier LeagueWhere: Old Trafford, Manchester, United KingdomWhen: Sunday, August 16 at 4:30pm (15:30 GMT) How to follow: We’ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 4:30pm (15:30 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream. Arsenal face an immediate test of their Premier League title credentials against a revamped Manchester United. Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the game. How does the season shape up for Arsenal? Mikel Arteta has challenged Arsenal to keep digging for gold. The Gunners have finished as Premier League runners-up for the last three seasons, sparking criticism of their failure to get over the line in the title race. Arsenal blew significant leads when Manchester City pipped them to the trophy in 2023 and 2024, before Liverpool left the injury-plagued north Londoners trailing in their wake last season. Arsenal’s title frustrations are mounting, with fans questioning whether Arteta is the right man to end their drought after winning only the 2020 FA Cup since he took charge in December 2019. But the Gunners showed their potential last season, with a run to the Champions League semifinals that ended with a narrow defeat against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. And, buoyed by a host of new signings worth more than 180 million pounds ($244 million) in total, Arteta is convinced they can finally get their hands on the Premier League silverware this season. “You keep digging, digging, digging, and you have to be digging because one day the gold is going to be there,” he told reporters on Friday. “For three seasons, we’ve had more points than [nearly] any other team in this league, which is incredible. Advertisement “You have the consistency, but now we have to do it in a season, to end with more points than any other team. “That’s the objective. When I’ve been taught, when I’ve been educated, that’s it.” Hampered by injuries to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz at various stages last season, Arsenal lacked a cutting edge and were held to 14 draws compared with Liverpool’s nine. That was a crucial edge as Arsenal finished 10 points behind the champions. Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres heads at goal during a preseason friendly against Athletic Bilbao [Matthew Childs/Reuters] Who did Arsenal sign this summer? In an attempt to insulate Arsenal against another fitness-related collapse, Arteta has brought in Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard. After bemoaning Arsenal’s failure to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as Liverpool pulled away during the January window, the Spaniard is a far more upbeat figure on the eve of the new season. “I think we have great versatility, very different qualities in relation to the opposition, so we are very happy with that,” he said. Arteta said that “too many” teams have a legitimate shot at winning the Premier League for his liking, some he even suspects will “surprise everybody”. Whether that was a hint that United, who suffered their worst season since 1973-74 last term, could emerge as contenders after their summer spending spree remains to be seen. Arsenal were linked with a move for United’s new striker Benjamin Sesko before deciding to bet on Gyokeres for a fee that could rise to 66 million pounds ($89.5m). The Swede netted 97 times in 102 games in two years at Sporting, much of which came under United’s current manager, Ruben Amorim. Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo moved from Brentford in the summer transfer window [Andrew Boyers/Reuters] How is the season shaping up for Man Utd? Instead of being reunited with Gyokeres, Amorim overhauled his attack with the signings of Leipzig’s Sesko, Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo and Wolves forward Matheus Cunha at a combined cost of more than 200 million pounds ($271m). United, who have not won the title since 2013, had to spend big to erase the stench of their putrid campaign. Amorim’s team finished a dismal 15th in the top-flight, and squandered a chance to qualify for the Champions League with a toothless 1-0 defeat against fellow underachievers Tottenham in the Europa League final. Advertisement The pressure is on Amorim, who replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag in November, to deliver major improvements in his second season. Amorim knows Sesko will be key to that target and believes the 22-year-old Slovenian is ready to rise to the challenge. “I don’t need to tell Ben, ‘Ben, this is Manchester United, a lot of pressure. Every game is like do or die’,” Amorim said. “He is always thinking about football. He’s really obsessed about that.” Head-to-head This is the 244th meeting between the clubs, with United winning 99 of those games and Arsenal winning 89. The last two meetings ended in 1-1 draws, although one of those was in the FA Cup with United advancing on penalties. The Red Devils have not beaten the Gunners since December 2022, a 3-1 home win lead by a Marcus Rashford double. The Gunners have won four of the six following meetings. Manchester United team news Defenders Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Noussair Mazraoui (hamstring) are both injury absentees for United. Joshua Zirkzee and Andre Onana have, however, both recovered from knocks and are available for selection. Arsenal team news Arteta has said that the new signings, Gyokeres and Zubimendi, are both “fit to play”. Leandro Trossard has had a groin problem but is expected to recover in time for selection. Gabriel Jesus remains a long-term absentee with an ACL injury, but otherwise, Arteta has a full squad to choose from. Manchester United predicted starting lineup Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo, Cunha; Sesko Arsenal predicted starting lineup Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli Adblock test (Why?)
Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla returns home, set to meet PM Modi today
Shukla was received at the airport by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Amid tariff row, US trade team’s India visit called off, likely to be deferred: Reports
Earlier this month, the US announced a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from India. It raised the tariff to a massive 50 percent over New Delhi doing business with Russia amid its war with Ukraine. India responded by terming the action unfair and calling out the US for its “double standards.”
Rahul Gandhi kickstarts ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’, to cover Bihar’s 20 districts, 1,300 km, know full schedule
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ across Bihar will cover more than 20 districts, spanning 1,300 kilometres over 16 days. The Voter Adhikaar Yatra is a campaign led by Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders.
Delhi Airport to Noida in just 20 mins: PM Modi to inaugurate UER-II, Dwarka Expressway today
The UER-II, a 76-kilometre access-controlled corridor described as Delhi’s ‘outer ring road,’ runs from Alipur to Mahipalpur near IGI Airport.
Delhi Police issues traffic advisory as PM Modi inaugurates 2 major highways, know which roads are closed, alternate routes, more
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate two crucial highway projects worth nearly 11,000 crore in Rohini today, Delhi Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory in this regard. The Delhi Police have asked commuters to avoid few roads and has given alternate routes.
J-K’s Kathua cloudburst LIVE UPDATES: Days after Kishtwar, cloudburst hits Kathua; 4 dead and 6 injured
The incident occurred on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, disrupting the village’s access and resulting in minor property and land damage.
Over two dozen shots fired at YouTuber Elvish Yadav’s Gurugram residence, investigation underway, here’s what we know so far
Early Sunday morning, around 5:30-6:00 am, unidentified bikers fired over two dozen rounds outside YouTuber Elvish Yadav’s residence in Gurugram. Reportedly, no one is injured. Now, investigation is underway by the Gurugram Police.