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Barcelona Out to Prove Clasico Superiority in Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
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Barcelona Out to Prove Clasico Superiority in Copa del Rey Final

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP
Barcelona's Brazilian forward Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have been decisive for the Catalan giants this season. Josep LAGO / AFP

Hansi Flick's Barcelona are closing in on a potential quadruple this season but blocking their path are eternal rivals Real Madrid.

Although the Catalan giants, also in the Champions League semi-finals, are widely considered the best team in Spain at the moment, Carlo Ancelotti's faltering Los Blancos could claim both domestic titles still on the line.

Madrid trail leaders Barca by four points in La Liga, with another Clasico to come in May, but first the Spanish giants butt heads in Seville on Saturday in the Copa del Rey final.

Flick's Barcelona have emphatically bested Madrid on the two prior occasions they have met this season, first winning 4-0 in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.

Then Barca dismantled Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January, roaring to a 5-2 victory to claim the first trophy of the Flick era.

Barcelona outplayed Madrid in both games but their German coach had nothing but praise for his Italian counterpart.

"Real Madrid has an incredible team and one of the best coaches in the world... He (Ancelotti) has won everything," said Flick on Tuesday.

"He's a gentleman... I have the highest respect.

"On Saturday, we play the final against Real Madrid and of course against Carlo."

Ancelotti will need to find ways to shut down Pedri in midfield as well as dynamic wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

Madrid have lost 12 matches this season, compared to just two across all competitions in the previous campaign.

Barcelona breezed past Real Betis and edged Atletico Madrid on the way to the final at La Cartuja stadium, their first since 2021, when they beat Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid, who last won the trophy in 2023, needed an extra-time goal from Antonio Rudiger to beat Real Sociedad 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

After Madrid's Champions League elimination by Arsenal earlier this month they are desperate to beat Barcelona and claim some silverware as well as restoring their pride.

Both sides have lost important players in the run-up to the game.

Barcelona are without top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski and left-back Alejandro Balde, while Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga was ruled out for the rest of the season on Thursday with a groin injury.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe missed Madrid's nervy 1-0 win at Getafe on Wednesday as he recovers from an ankle problem, but Ancelotti said he is expected to be fit to face Barca.

'Anything can happen'

Mbappe was whistled by Madrid fans during their win over Athletic Bilbao last weekend when his face appeared on the screens at the Bernabeu and he will hoping to lift his first major trophy with the club, following European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup wins.

When Madrid have lined up with Mbappe alongside Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo sometimes the team suffers at the back.

"Maybe they are the favorites, but a final is a final and anything can happen," said Ancelotti.

"We have to defend well and I am convinced that we will defend well and have opportunities in attack."

Barcelona will likely line up with Gerard Martin at left-back replacing Balde, which is an area Madrid can exploit, perhaps through Rodrygo, although the Brazilian has not scored in his last 11 matches.

"On a statistical level he has to play because if he's not scored in all that time, well he has to sooner or later," joked Ancelotti.

"In these type of matches he always scores and I believe in him completely."

Rodrygo netted both goals as Madrid beat Osasuna to win the Copa del Rey two years ago, the club's 20th.

Barcelona are the all-time record winners on 31 triumphs, ahead of current holders Athletic Bilbao on 24, with Madrid third.

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Sports

Slot Blames Fatigue as Liverpool Fail Again

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
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Slot Blames Fatigue as Liverpool Fail Again

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (C) argues with the referee Michael Salisbury (L) during the English Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool FC, in Bournemouth, Britain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)

Liverpool boss Arne Slot blamed tiredness for his side's concession of a 95th-minute goal away to Bournemouth that saw them slump to a 3-2 Premier league defeat after coming back from two goals down on Saturday.

The reigning champions have been a shadow of last year's side so far, losing seven league games and struggling to break down sides that they brushed aside during their imperious march to the 2024/25 title.

"For the last five, six, seven, eight, nine, ‌10 games, we ‌mainly have to play with ‌the ⁠same players, the ‌players we have available and then sometimes a few of them could be, in the end of the game, a bit tired," Slot said in post-match interviews with a variety of British broadcasters.

"I think that's what you could see today in the end as well."

Bournemouth raced out to ⁠a 2-0 lead before being pegged back to 2-2 in the 80th ‌minute through Dominik Szoboszlai's equalizer, and ‍the remainder of the ‍game was a wide-open, end-to-end affair.

"Both teams were trying ‍to score a goal, they had better opportunities than us in the last 10 minutes and then in the end there is a long throw in which led to a goal," Slot said before criticizing officials for not playing more added time.

"But in the end, that didn't ⁠matter because they scored, although maybe we could have had them two or three (more) minutes but this game should not have had (only) four minutes of extra time."

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was delighted with his side's resilience and how they reacted to Liverpool's surging comeback.

"It is a massive win for us because we were in a difficult situation," he told the BBC.

"We are finding ways to get points against difficult opposition. I am very proud of ‌the team and what we are doing. We are adapting, and we are getting good points."

Sports

Mbappe Double Powers Real Madrid Past Villarreal to Top of LaLiga

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
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Mbappe Double Powers Real Madrid Past Villarreal to Top of LaLiga

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores the 0-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid, in Villarreal, Spain, 24 January 2026. (EPA)

Kylian Mbappe struck twice in the second half as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory at Villarreal on Saturday, climbing above Barcelona to take provisional pole position in LaLiga.

The win moved Alvaro Arbeloa's side to 51 points, two clear of second-placed Barcelona, who host bottom club Oviedo on Sunday. Villarreal are fourth, level on 41 with Atletico Madrid.

Real dominated from the outset, with Vinicius Jr causing endless problems on the left flank.

The Brazilian's pivotal moment came just after halftime when he weaved past defenders in the 47th minute and fed Mbappe inside the penalty area, leaving the French forward an easy finish from close range.

Real continued to control the tempo and ‌Mbappe sealed ‌the win in stoppage time, converting from the ‌penalty ⁠spot after being ‌clumsily fouled inside the box.

REAL DICTATE COMPELLING ENCOUNTER

In a compelling encounter in the first half, Real dictated the rhythm while the home side tried to hit back with quick counter attacks.

Vinicius came closest to a breakthrough in the first half, narrowly missing the target with a low shot in the 40th minute after a surging run.

Villarreal's best chance came through their Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye's powerful effort from ⁠the edge of the box that went just wide on the stroke of halftime.

The second half began ‌with drama two minutes in when Gueye's misplaced pass ‍was intercepted by Vinicius.

The Brazilian darted ‍into the box, reached the byline and cut the ball back for ‍Mbappe. Villarreal's defense managed a partial clearance, but Mbappe reacted quickest, smashing the rebound into the net for his first goal of the evening.

Villarreal's best chance came in the 62nd minute when Gerard Moreno, unmarked inside the box after a precise Dani Parejo pass, blasted his first-time shot over the crossbar.

Real sealed the win in stoppage time. Vinicius released Mbappe with a perfectly weighted pass ⁠and as the Frenchman charged into the box he was brought down from behind by Alfonso Pedraza.

Mbappe, the league's top scorer, stepped up to calmly chip the resulting penalty into the middle of the goal for his 21st goal in 20 LaLiga appearances this season.

"(Vinicius and Mbappe) are the two best in the world," manager Alvaro Arbeloa told Real Madrid TV.

"They are very disruptive. We try to get them to touch the ball as much as possible, explore situations where Vini can go out wide and Kylian can break into space.

"We are very happy to have them in this form, they are the first two who are pressing, ‌helping the midfielders, showing the solidarity we need from them, and we are very happy that the reward comes in the form of goals."

Sports

Djokovic Says ‘Great Champion’ Wawrinka’s Legacy Will Live on

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)
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Djokovic Says ‘Great Champion’ Wawrinka’s Legacy Will Live on

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2026 Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka applauds fans in the stands after losing his third round match against Taylor Fritz of the US. (Reuters)

Novak Djokovic says the retiring Stan Wawrinka's legacy will live on in tennis, hailing the Swiss veteran as a "great champion" who inspired him.

The 40-year-old Wawrinka bid a final farewell to the Australian Open on Saturday in a battling third-round loss to Taylor Fritz.

The current season is his last before the three-time Grand Slam winner hangs up his racquet.

"Proud to call him a friend and a rival and someone that definitely has inspired me," said 24-time major winner Djokovic, whose career has run parallel to Wawrinka's for nearly two decades.

"I mean, no doubt with his longevity, with commitment to the game. He's so passionate about it. His legacy will definitely stay and live with many different younger generations that look up to him.

"He's a great champion on and off the court," added the 38-year-old.

Wawrinka made his debut at Melbourne Park in 2006 and won the major in 2014.

He also won the French Open a year later and the US Open in 2016 at a time when Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal were dominating men's tennis.

"I think it's been a great farewell Australian Open for him with the crowd support and everything that has happened on the court," said Djokovic.

"When he's gone, tennis is going to lose a great player and a great person."