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Barcelona Looks for Fresh Start in 1st Game Since Xavi’s Decision to Leave at End of Season 

Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - January 30, 2024 FC Barcelona coach Xavi during the press conference. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - January 30, 2024 FC Barcelona coach Xavi during the press conference. (Reuters)
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Barcelona Looks for Fresh Start in 1st Game Since Xavi’s Decision to Leave at End of Season 

Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - January 30, 2024 FC Barcelona coach Xavi during the press conference. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona Press Conference - Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona, Spain - January 30, 2024 FC Barcelona coach Xavi during the press conference. (Reuters)

Xavi Hernández wants a fresh start for Barcelona in its first match since the coach announced his decision to leave at the end of the season.

Barcelona hosts Osasuna in the Spanish league on Wednesday in a game postponed from earlier this year because of the Spanish Super Cup that was played in Saudi Arabia. Atletico Madrid also plays its postponed match on Wednesday, hosting Rayo Vallecano. Real Madrid — the Super Cup champion — visits Getafe on Thursday.

“It’s not an easy time but Barca and the fans need to be united,” Xavi said Tuesday. “I would like to highlight the reaction of the fans and the locker room following my announcement. The shows of affection I have received have been amazing. My announcement was designed to help the team grow so that we can all take a step forward.”

Xavi announced his decision to leave shortly after the team’s 5-3 home loss to Villareal on Saturday in the league. He said he hoped the announcement would lower the stress and tension that was surrounding both the team and himself.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said he would stick with Xavi this season because he was a club great and was confident that the coach would remain committed despite deciding to leave.

“The reaction of the players should be what it needs to be on the field because we depend on them becoming inspired,” Xavi said. “There is a lot at stake, do our best in the league and compete in the Champions League. I am still excited, I feel free. I will give a bit extra to make it work.”

The loss to Villarreal left Barcelona in fourth place, 11 points behind league leader Girona and 10 points from second-place Madrid.

The Catalan club had already been eliminated by Athletic Bilbao in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey and lost 4-1 to Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.

Osasuna, which also played in the Super Cup and lost to Barcelona in the semifinals, has won two of its last three league games. It’s 12th in the standings.

ATLETICO’S HOME RUN

Third-place Atletico will try to extend its unbeaten run at home to 28 matches in all competitions when it hosts Rayo.

Atletico’s last home defeat was against Barcelona in January last year in the Spanish league. Diego Simeone’s team has only two draws during this streak, which tied its previous run of 27 unbeaten home matches from 2019-2021.

Rayo, which is 13th, is winless in four straight games in all competitions.

MADRID EYES TOP SPOT

Madrid can retake the Spanish league lead if it wins at midtable Getafe on Thursday.

Unbeaten in 24 consecutive matches across all tournaments, Madrid has won five games in a row in the league.

Getafe is coming off a win at Granada after three straight league matches without a win.

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Sports

Irish PM Backs Football Manager After Israel FA Criticism

21 September 2026, Ireland, Dublin: Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin speaks to members of the media before a Cabinet meeting, at Government Buildings. (dpa)
21 September 2026, Ireland, Dublin: Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin speaks to members of the media before a Cabinet meeting, at Government Buildings. (dpa)
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Irish PM Backs Football Manager After Israel FA Criticism

21 September 2026, Ireland, Dublin: Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin speaks to members of the media before a Cabinet meeting, at Government Buildings. (dpa)
21 September 2026, Ireland, Dublin: Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin speaks to members of the media before a Cabinet meeting, at Government Buildings. (dpa)

Ireland's prime minister, Micheal Martin, backed his country's football manager on Tuesday after Israel's football federation accused him of "stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy" over comments about the war in Gaza.

Martin said the Israel Football Association's remarks about Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson were "unacceptable".

"I think those are unacceptable remarks. They should be withdrawn," Martin told reporters in New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly.

"Israel can't keep denying what the world knows, and what the world understands," he said.

Hallgrimsson sparked the row after saying ahead of two Nations League fixtures against Israel: "We're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide. We're playing against Israel, we're not playing with Israel."

The Israel FA responded on Monday, accusing the Icelandic coach of "stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy".

Martin said Hallgrimsson's comments reflected concerns about the scale of death and destruction in Gaza, also citing remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The dispute comes amid mounting controversy in Ireland over the fixtures, scheduled for September 27 and October 4.

More than 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter calling on the national team to boycott the matches, while protesters gathered outside the team's Dublin hotel on Monday.

Further protests are planned around the country in the run-up to the games.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) passed a motion last November requesting that European football governing body UEFA suspend Israel from international competition, but received no support from European football chiefs.

The FAI has said it has little choice but to fulfil the fixtures or risk sporting and financial sanctions.

Ireland's designated home match on October 4 was moved from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia, following concerns over disruption and security.

The September 27 match, officially Israel's home fixture, will also be played at a neutral venue, in Debrecen, Hungary.

Israel strongly rejects allegations that its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.

Hamas on October 7, 2023 led the deadliest attack ever against Israel in which militants killed 1,221 people and dragged into Gaza some 251 hostages, 44 of them already dead, according to Israeli official figures.

Israel launched a massive retaliatory offensive that has displaced virtually the entire population at least once and has killed 73,919 people, according to the Gaza health ministry, which operates under Hamas and whose figures are generally considered reliable.

Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy for Palestinians often linked to the country's own history of British rule.

Dublin formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticized Israel's conduct of the war in Gaza.

Sports

Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
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Hadjar Back for Red Bull at Azerbaijan GP

FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)
FILE - Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar prepares for the first practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Nov. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)

French racer Isack Hadjar will make his Formula One return this weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing the last three races, his Red Bull team said on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old missed GPs in the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, and was replaced by New Zealander Liam Lawson.

He had injured his wrist in training over the summer break.

"Oracle Red Bull Racing is delighted to welcome Isack back this weekend," the team said in social media posts, according to AFP.

"Having made a successful recovery from his wrist injury, Isack will return to action at the Baku City circuit on Thursday."

Lawson will return to the sister Racing Bulls team this weekend.
Japan's Yuki Tsunoda had filled in for Lawson during the last three Grand Prix.

Lawson scored 14 points during his Red Bull secondment, while Tsunoda managed a single point in the Racing Bulls seat.

Sports

Zidane Leads First France Training Session

France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)
France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)
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Zidane Leads First France Training Session

France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)
France's head coach Zinedine Zidane takes part in a training session four days ahead of France's UEFA Nations League football match against Türkiye in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines outside Paris, on September 21, 2026. (AFP)

Zinedine Zidane oversaw his first training session with the France national team on Monday as Les Bleus prepared for the start of the new Nations League campaign.

Under the gaze of some 50 journalists, the 1998 World Cup winner led a dozen of his players through a light training session at the country's national football center, Clairefontaine.

With many of France's stars in action with their clubs across Europe last weekend, not all of Zidane's 23-man squad were present.

Michael Olise, Eduardo Camavinga, Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano featured in the 12-strong group but captain Kylian Mbappe, who played in Real Madrid's derby loss to Atletico Madrid on Sunday, was a notable absentee.

Zidane was joined for the session by his assistant David Bettoni, who worked alongside him at Real Madrid, and former team-mate from the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000-winning sides, Fabien Barthez, who is France's goalkeeping coach.

The session concluded with a short practice match, followed by shots on goal from crosses delivered by Zidane himself.

France face four Nations League fixtures following this first training camp of the Zidane era: away matches in Türkiye and Belgium on September 25 and 28, followed by home matches against Italy and Belgium at the Stade de France in early October.