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Benzema, Vinícius Net Braces in Madrid Rout; Barcelona Draws

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valencia at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valencia at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP)
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Benzema, Vinícius Net Braces in Madrid Rout; Barcelona Draws

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valencia at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Valencia at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. (AP)

Karim Benzema and Vinícius Júnior each scored a brace of goals as Real Madrid beat Valencia 4-1 and extended its lead of the Spanish league on Saturday.

Madrid increased its lead over second-placed Sevilla to eight points before it plays Getafe on Sunday.

Benzema converted a penalty earned by Casemiro just before halftime to reach 300 career goals for Madrid. He helped set up Vinícius to double the lead in the 52nd minute after the Brazilian winger slalomed past several defenders. Shortly after, Vinícius finished off a rebound for the third.

After Goncalo Guedes pulled one back for Valencia, Benzema took his league-leading tally to 17.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side missed Vinícius' verve last weekend in a shock loss to Getafe. Vinicius was sitting out the first of two games after testing positive for COVID-19.

Against Valencia, the forward again showed why he is a big reason Madrid is on course to reclaim the league title from Atlético Madrid. Vinícius has developed the finishing touch and decision making — to go with the quickness and dribbling skill he showed when he arrived at Madrid as a teenager — to become the competition's breakout player.

All his talents were there in his first goal.

With four defenders in his path, Vinícius took them on. He blew past two, exchanged quick passes with Benzema, and slipped the ball past the last two men before beating the hapless Jasper Cillessen.

His next goal was his 11th, leaving him behind only Benzema on the league’s scoring list.

Benzema added a second goal with two minutes to play when he received the ball, spun and drilled a low strike into the corner.

“I have always felt good with Vinícius. I know his potential and that he can do even more,” Benzema said after his 301st goal for Madrid.

“It is a source of pride to reach such numbers with this club, which I think is the best in the world.”

Barcelona held
Ten-man Barcelona conceded a late goal to draw at Granada 1-1 after Dani Alves set up the opener in his first league match since returning to the club.

The 38-year-old Alves curled in a long ball for Luuk de Jong to steer home with a header in the 57th.

But Granada poured forward after teenager Gavi Páez got his second booking with 10 minutes left. Antonio Puertas scored the 89th-minute equalizer with Barcelona hemmed in in its box.

Alves, who helped Barcelona win 23 titles from 2008-16, started his second stint on Wednesday as third-tier side Linares was beaten 2-1 in the Copa del Rey.

Barcelona was left in sixth place after missing the chance to climb into third and the Champions League spots.

“We are angry and frustrated because we let two vital points slip away,” coach Xavi Hernández said. “The sending off obviously changed the match, but we were already making too many mistakes, losing too many silly balls. It may be due to the lack of experience of our young players, but it is proving difficult for us to maintain possession when we need to.”

Barcelona next heads to Saudi Arabia to play a clásico against Madrid on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup. Atlético and Athletic Bilbao are in the other semifinal.

Finally, a win
It took Levante 20 matches, but it finally got its first win of the season.

Roberto Soldado and José Morales scored in its 2-0 win over Mallorca after having gone the entire first half of the season — a full 19 rounds — without a single victory. The only previous win in any competition for the Valencia-based side came against a lower-division opponent in the Copa del Rey, before it was eliminated in the next round by a third-tier opponent.

Levante remained in last place, five points from safety.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored his 12th goal in all competitions to help Real Sociedad beat Celta Vigo 1-0, ending its six-round winless streak.

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Yamal Scores on Injury Return as Spain Defeat Saudi Arabia

Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Rodri, left, after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Rodri, left, after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
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Yamal Scores on Injury Return as Spain Defeat Saudi Arabia

Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Rodri, left, after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)
Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates with teammate Rodri, left, after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, Sunday, June 21, 2026. (AP)

Lamine Yamal's return sparked Spain's World Cup into life as the European champions ran riot to beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta.

Making his first start in two months after a hamstring injury, Yamal ended La Roja's long wait for a World Cup goal just 10 minutes in.

Mikel Oyarzabal then struck twice to put Luis de la Fuente's men 3-0 up inside 24 minutes.

De la Fuente's careful management of Yamal's minutes continued as the Barcelona superstar was replaced at half-time before Hassan al-Tambakti's own goal rounded off the scoring.

Victory propels Spain to the top of Group H ahead of Uruguay's meeting with Cape Verde later on Sunday.

Billed as one of the pre-tournament favorites, Spain got off to a slow start in a 0-0 draw against debutants Cape Verde.

A pedestrian performance despite dominating possession only highlighted the importance of Yamal to their quest to be world champions for a second time.

De la Fuente also warned his players had been "stung" by the criticism they faced following their opening result and they responded emphatically.

Yamal's return was one of four changes in total with Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also coming into the starting line-up.

After over 2,500 passes and 50 attempts at goal since their last World Cup goal, Spain finally found the net and fittingly Yamal made the breakthrough.

- Pressure rises on Saudis -

Oyarzabal found space in behind the Saudi defense and his low cross picked out the 18-year-old to slot in at the back post.

Coach Georgios Donis looked particularly irked that two of Spain's goals came from corners.

Oyarzabal pounced on Aymeric Laporte's flick on to give the 2010 winners the breathing space they craved.

Just three minutes later, the Real Sociedad forward volleyed home from Dani Olmo's header for his 14th international goal in his last 13 caps.

Oyarzabal was inches away from a first half hat-trick when his audacious effort with the outside of his foot from a narrow angle came back off the crossbar.

But with the job done by half-time, De la Fuente could afford the luxury of replacing Yamal and Oyarzabal at the break.

The changes did not disrupt the waves of Spanish attack towards the Saudi goal, but the fourth also came via a corner.

Cucurella was afforded acres of space to shoot and although his effort was repelled by Mohammed al-Owais, the rebound deflected in off the unfortunate Tambakti.

To round off an ideal afternoon for De la Fuente on his 65th birthday, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino were afforded valuable minutes off the bench in the second period as they too get up to match speed after lengthy absences due to injury.

By contrast, the pressure is now on Donis to deliver in Saudi Arabia's final group game against Cape Verde in Houston.

Victory will likely take the Arabian Falcons into the knockout stages for the first time since the World Cup was last in the United States 32 years ago.

Spain travel to Guadalajara next for the final group game against two-time winners Uruguay on Friday.

Sports

Key Netherlands Duo Hopeful of Facing Tunisia in Final Pool Game

Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (C) is helped up by Netherlands' defender #15 Micky Van de Ven (L) and Netherlands' midfielder #20 Teun Koopmeiners (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (AFP)
Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (C) is helped up by Netherlands' defender #15 Micky Van de Ven (L) and Netherlands' midfielder #20 Teun Koopmeiners (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (AFP)
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Key Netherlands Duo Hopeful of Facing Tunisia in Final Pool Game

Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (C) is helped up by Netherlands' defender #15 Micky Van de Ven (L) and Netherlands' midfielder #20 Teun Koopmeiners (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (AFP)
Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (C) is helped up by Netherlands' defender #15 Micky Van de Ven (L) and Netherlands' midfielder #20 Teun Koopmeiners (R) during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between the Netherlands and Sweden at the Houston Stadium in Houston on June 20, 2026. (AFP)

Netherlands captain Virgil van ‌Dijk is feeling discomfort after taking a knock in Saturday’s 5-1World Cup demolition of Sweden, but is hopeful the injury is not serious enough to keep him out of the team’s final pool game against Tunisia.

The Netherlands bounced back from a 2-2 draw with Japan to inflict a heavy defeat on the Swedes in Houston, and will fancy their chances of sealing top spot in Group F when they play hapless already-eliminated Tunisia in Kansas City on Thursday.

"I took a hard hit to my hip, and I couldn’t feel my upper ‌leg anymore, so ‌that was a little bit crazy," Van Dijk ‌was ⁠quoted as saying ⁠by NOS. "But it was probably just a pinched nerve. I think it is not too bad, but we will see shortly."

Center-back van Dijk remains a key figure for coach Ronald Koeman and could become the Dutch player with the most World Cup appearances as captain if he features against the Tunisians.

He currently has seven, level with Johan Cruyff, ⁠Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Frank de Boer and Ruud ‌Krol, and if he leads the side ‌again in this World Cup will move clear on the all-time list.

He ‌is not the only injury concern. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong was ‌a doubt coming into the match against Sweden, but played almost an hour before being replaced.

"We had a collision at training, and I was also involved in that," De Jong said. "I had sustained some damage from it, but ‌in the end, it was okay. We’re going to see what the reaction will be, but I ⁠have confidence ⁠in it."

The win extended the Netherlands’ unbeaten run at World Cups to 14 games, not counting penalty shootouts. That took them past Brazil (1958-1966) for the longest unbeaten streak in the tournament’s history.

The last time they lost a game outright was the 2010 final to Spain when they went down 1-0 in Soweto, South Africa.

Netherlands currently top Group F after two rounds with four points, the same number as Japan. Both teams have a +4 goal difference, though the Dutch have scored a goal more.

Japan play Sweden in their final match, where the latter could still top the pool despite their heavy defeat to the Dutch if they win and Tunisia hold the Netherlands to a draw.

Sports

Coach Says Iran Still Being Treated Poorly by US at World Cup ahead of Second Match

Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei speaks to his players during an MD-1 training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, on June 20, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei speaks to his players during an MD-1 training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, on June 20, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
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Coach Says Iran Still Being Treated Poorly by US at World Cup ahead of Second Match

Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei speaks to his players during an MD-1 training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, on June 20, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)
Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei speaks to his players during an MD-1 training session at Carson Sports Park in Carson, on June 20, 2026, on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group G football match between Belgium and Iran. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP)

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei says that although his team is still being treated unfairly by the host US at the World Cup through travel restrictions and visa refusals, he is optimistic FIFA will persuade the Americans to lessen some of those strictures next week.

“I am very glad that the Iranian nation is behind us,” Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. “Our martyrs in Iran, we play for them. But I know that this kind of behavior has hurt our people. Even if we spent billions of dollars, we would not be able to have justice for our people. It just shows we are an oppressed country. But nevertheless, I hope we achieve peace, and I hope this kind of behavior does not become institutionalized in the World Cup.”

Iran returned to the Los Angeles area on Saturday for its second match against Belgium on Sunday, but Ghalenoei said he was forced to curtail his team’s training ahead of this difficult meeting with the No. 10 team in FIFA’s world rankings after his request to travel Friday was denied.

“We needed to have 24 hours (in Los Angeles), but they gave us less than 16 hours, and that is why we had to leave our training halfway,” Ghalenoei said. “These constraints have made it very difficult for us.”

Ghalenoei also appealed to the World Cup’s other teams and coaches to speak out against the treatment of the Iranian team.

“I ask the other 47 coaches a question, and none of them have responded to me,” he said. “We are here for football, not politics, and we are saying that again. Our grievances are to the way they’ve behaved with us. I haven’t heard anything from other coaches (at the World Cup), and I’m sure they’re busy and preparing their own teams and we never expect them to have a reaction. But if I had seen another team being treated the way we are being treated, I would say something.”

The Iranian team is operating under travel restrictions set by the US, which began a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Team Melli has been directed to fly to its matches in the US on the day before the game and to return immediately afterward to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico.

While that schedule is not considered onerous by other teams who voluntarily travel in the same window, it’s not what Ghalenoei wants. Iran worked out at the LA Galaxy’s home stadium in suburban Carson on Saturday afternoon after the short flight from Tijuana.

“You cannot deny that our situation hasn’t been the same as all the other teams,” Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi said. “All the other teams have managed to focus on our planning, whereas we have had to spend so much time just commuting.”

Ghalenoei repeatedly praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his attempts to loosen the Americans’ restrictions, and he is optimistic that the US will allow Team Melli to travel to Seattle next week two days in advance of its final group stage match against Egypt.

“For the third game, they said, ‘In Seattle, you can do what you want,’” Ghalenoei said. “'You can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier.' But my problem is, why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well? I just know for the last game, they’ve allowed us to make our own decisions with planning the travel. But unfortunately for the first two games, others made these timing decisions for us.”

The coach said FIFA spent much of Friday attempting to persuade the American government to allow Iran to fly to Los Angeles that day. Ghalenoei waited by the phone for the approval to head for the airport, but the negotiations were unsuccessful.

“They said, ‘Sorry, we weren’t able to do that,’” Ghalenoei said. “And that’s going to affect us mentally, especially because as a head coach, I want to focus on technical things. I thank FIFA for that, but it doesn’t mean it’s succeeded. I just hope problems won’t occur in future World Cups.”

Iran also played its opening match of the World Cup at SoFi Stadium on Monday, drawing 2-2 with underdog New Zealand one day after a five-hour commute that included customs delays.

Ghaleneoi said after the game that he was surprised and upset to be ordered out of the country immediately instead of taking another day in the US to optimize his team's recovery period, while US officials claimed Iran already knew about its restrictions.

Ghalenoei acknowledged Saturday that the Iranians cleared customs and reached their Los Angeles hotel much more quickly this time following their short flight from Tijuana, giving credit to US officials for ironing out some of the bureaucratic wrinkles.

But he also renewed his complaints about the members of the team’s traveling party who had been denied visas, including the head of Iran’s football federation, coaching support personnel and media relations staffers.

“Such kind of behavior is not suitable for a World Cup,” Ghalenoei said. “You invite a team, but you don’t let in their support staff, their backroom staff?”

Ghalenoei said Iran’s soccer federation hasn’t formally lodged a complaint with FIFA about its treatment, but is only airing its grievances publicly.

Belgian right back Thomas Meunier expressed his team’s empathy with the Iranians’ situation, which reminded him of facing Ukraine after the Russian invasion.

“We usually don’t mix football with politics, but it’s quite challenging to separate the two, admittedly,” Meunier said through an interpreter. “This period should push the Iranian team to do better, in my opinion. When we played Ukraine in Nations League, there was very high motivation, more energy. They want to make their people proud and defend their nation. For us, it’s an added challenge. I would imagine some Iranian players have a family that’s directly impacted by the war, and we obviously feel for these people.”