Browsing: Barcelonas

Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong criticized Dani Carvajal‘s provocation of Lamine Yamal at the end of an ill-tempered Clásico, which ended with players scuffling on the pitch after the game.

Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to end a run of four straight Clásico defeats and extend their lead at the top of LaLiga over the Catalan side to five points.

Yamal was jeered throughout the game by Madrid supporters for comments made earlier in the week when he suggested the team benefits from dubious refereeing calls and still complains.

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Real Madrid’s Carvajal approached Yamal, making a gesture with his hands that appeared to contribute to the clashes between the players.

“If Carvajal wanted to speak to Lamine, he could do so in private,” De Jong told reporters after the game. “If he thinks he shouldn’t do things like [make those comments], he could call him. They’re teammates [with Spain], they know each other. Why do you have to make a scene on the pitch?”

Yamal had stoked tensions ahead of the game when he appeared on the Kings League’s YouTube channel — the seven-a-side competition run by former Barça defender Gerard Piqué — and compared Madrid to one of the teams in the league.

But De Jong said the comments were taken out of context ahead of the game.

“Lamine didn’t say that they rob, not directly,” De Jong said. “He’s there doing stuff for the Kings League, people are saying things, but I have not heard Lamine saying exactly that.

“I can understand Madrid’s players, but the reaction was exaggerated.”

It had created a hostile atmosphere toward Yamal at the Santiago Bernabéu, with supporters jeering his name when he was introduced before the match and then whistling his every touch.

Dani Carvajal gestures toward Lamine Yamal during Real Madrid’s win over Barcelona. Getty Images

“It could be [that], probably a little bit, because he is also learning to deal with the audience, the shouting and whistles from spectators,” Barça assistant coach Marcus Sorg, who was filling in for the suspended Hansi Flick, said of whether the atmosphere had affected Yamal.

“It’s normal. Normally he’s very motivated and plays well. Today it was not so easy for him.”

On the pitch, Madrid defended well against Yamal, with left back Ãlvaro Carreras doing a good job, often supported by teammates.

Sorg pointed out that Yamal is also just returning from a groin injury, adding that it was unfair to pile too much weight on the teenager’s shoulders.

“He came from an injury and he needs rhythm, more games at the highest level,” he said. “It’s normal, he’s 18. We have to give him time, we have to help him, we do it all together.

“The opponents try everything to defend very well, they adapt this season, so we work with him to help him bring his best version on the pitch again.

“They often play two against one against him. They want to avoid him coming in the box for the finishing and everything. It’s normal. He’s young and he has to improve and we will help him.”

Madrid coach Xabi Alonso played down the aftermath of the game.

“It’s the tension of the moment, for them and us,” he said in a news conference. “These scuffles have always happened, not just in these games.

“A lot of things were happening in the game. It can be healthy, as long as there’s respect. That is how I saw it anyway.”

Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, meanwhile, said that Yamal’s remarks had been a source of motivation for the team in the buildup to the game.

“Personally I like it,” he told reporters. “They’re just words, there’s no bad intention, motivates us a little bit more. If Lamine wants to talk, there’s no problem.”

Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham between one by Fermín López sealed the points for Madrid in a game packed with big refereeing calls.

Madrid had an early penalty award overturned and three goals ruled out for offside, while they were eventually awarded a penalty later after an Eric García handball, although Mbappé’s effort was saved by Wojciech Szczesny.

ESPN’s Alex Kirkland contributed to this report.

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Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Harry Kane scored at Barcelona last season and a tactical trend has emerged

By

Football tactics correspondent

Barcelona have lost their latest two games and there is a Harry Kane-inspired tactical tweak that teams are using to create chances against them this season.

Budding strikers are often advised to pay attention to defensive lines and stay onside, but in the professional game there are forwards who deliberately occupy offside positions in order to score later on in attacking moves.

Why strikers are standing ‘offside’

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Barcelona’s Hansi Flick is known for his front-footed managerial style

PSG recently beat Barcelona in the Champions League as striker Goncalo Ramos scored a 90th-minute winner.

When discussing how the goal happened, Ramos said: “I think a lot about beating a high line. Against Barcelona, [there is] a video of Harry Kane, I think two years ago, and he did something like I did on the goal, and he scored.”

But what did he mean by this?

Interestingly, both Ramos and Kane were able to score against Barcelona’s high defensive line by initially waiting in an offside position, something defenders aren’t used to.

Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Bayern Munich striker Kane began behind Barcelona’s high defence in a move that eventually led to him scoring in last season’s Champions League game

Thomas Muller has previously spoken about attackers positioning themselves in this way.

Long-serving Bayern Munich forward Muller, who left at the end of last season to join Vancouver Whitecaps, said: “It is easier to defend a guy that comes to the ball because then the striker is in front of them. They can see and defend him.

“But when you have a guy that is [behind you], you always have to turn [but] you don’t want to give up your offside line.”

The unusual positioning disrupts central defenders and removes some of the tools they use to marshal their opposing striker.

Momentum prevents Barcelona getting back

Barcelona look to catch opponents offside and as a result the defenders face the ball, looking to step up the pitch.

PSG last week – and Bayern before them – had players facing Barcelona’s goal with their weight and momentum in the right direction, ready to run in behind.

This made it difficult for Barcelona’s defence to recover. Having to turn before accelerating again reduces how quickly they can get back to defend their goal.

This problem has been made worse with the strikers having a head start in their offside position. In the case of the Ramos and Kane goals, the wide players in PSG’s Achraf Hakimi and Bayern’s Serge Gnabry also had the pace to go beyond the Barcelona defence.

Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Barcelona’s defence try to step up forward while Ramos and Hakimi are positioned well to run in behind

In both examples, the ball was switched to a quicker wide player running in behind. Crucially, they were onside when the pass was played to them, while the comparatively slower striker caused uncertainty centrally, in an offside position.

This scheme helps teams to score against Barcelona’s high line even if they don’t have the paciest striker, by instead looking to release their quicker wide players first in onside positions.

Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Hakimi has the pace to bring the ball past the defensive line which quickly ensures Ramos is onside

Getting back onside to score

With the tactic deployed, both strikers moved towards the back post rather than coming towards the ball, giving them time to move into an onside position as the wide players carried the ball up the pitch.

The central attacker’s positioning towards the back post allowed for the pass to be played into space for them to meet, with time for the pass to curl back towards them and away from the goalkeeper.

From their initial offside position, the strikers – now onside – were able to maintain an advantage in order to receive the ball uncontested for a clear sight of goal.

Image source, BBC SportImage caption,

Gnabry assists Kane who arrives at the ball before any of the Barcelona defenders can get back

The similarities in both goals analysed are stark, but examples of this scheme have not been limited to these two games.

Concerningly, Barcelona have conceded similar chances against the likes of Levante, Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla in the league this season.

Sevilla beat Barcelona 4-1 on Sunday.

Given how effective the tactic has proven, it is likely more teams will begin to implement it, against Barcelona and teams who play with high lines in general.

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Barcelonaâ€s third kit for the 2025/26 season has leaked online, revealing a vibrant throwback design inspired by Nikeâ€s iconic Total 90 era.

In images shared by Footy Headlines, the shirt features a bold “Bright Mango†orange base paired with dark navy accents, echoing the clubâ€s 2009-11 away/third kit colourway.

The design draws heavily from Nikeâ€s mid-2000s Total 90 template – a style Nike has been revisiting recently for their 2025 Elite team third jerseys. Notably, the back of the shirt showcases a distinctive navy panel for player names, a hallmark of the Total 90 style.

While thereâ€s no official release date yet, the article suggests fans can expect the kit to drop “soon.â€

Once released, Barcelonaâ€s lineup for the new season will be complete, with the club’s home and away strips having already been released.

BARÇA THIRD JERSEY 25-26

T90 COLLECTION NIKE pic.twitter.com/RHKf4tuaja

— memorabilia1899.co (@memorabilia1899) August 2, 2025

The home kit stays true to the clubâ€s heritage with the classic red and blue Blaugrana vertical stripes, a return from last seasonâ€s split half-and-half design.

The away kit, meanwhile, is part of the bold FC Barcelona x Kobe Bryant collection, blending football tradition with basketball greatness. It features a striking gold base with violet and black accents, textured with a subtle snakeskin print – a tribute to Kobeâ€s “Black Mamba†legacy – along with his logo alongside the club crest.

A fresh yet nostalgic lineup, Barcelona is setting the tone for a season that honours its rich past while looking firmly toward the future.

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