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Valencia with New Coach Plays Real Madrid Nearly 2 months after Postponement

Olympiacos' head coach Carlos Corberan reacts during the Europe League soccer match between Nantes and Olympiacos at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, western France, Sept. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)
Olympiacos' head coach Carlos Corberan reacts during the Europe League soccer match between Nantes and Olympiacos at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, western France, Sept. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)
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Valencia with New Coach Plays Real Madrid Nearly 2 months after Postponement

Olympiacos' head coach Carlos Corberan reacts during the Europe League soccer match between Nantes and Olympiacos at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, western France, Sept. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)
Olympiacos' head coach Carlos Corberan reacts during the Europe League soccer match between Nantes and Olympiacos at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, western France, Sept. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez, File)

Hoping for a boost from a new coach, struggling Valencia gets an early start to the new year by facing Real Madrid in a La Liga game postponed two months ago because of the deadly floods.

The game on Friday comes after more than 200 people died in the massive floods in the Valencia region, and with the club still trying to overcome poor results and ongoing fan protests against Singaporean owner Peter Lim.

Valencia was in last place at the time, with only two victories and seven points from 11 matches. Now it sits second to last with 12 points from 17 games. It won only once since the postponement prompting the club to replace coach Rubén Baraja with Carlos Corberán during the Christmas break, according to The AP.

“We expect an opponent that may be extra motivated after changing its coach,” Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said Thursday. “We've looked how he coached at West Brom, and we'll see how he will adapt to the players he has at Valencia now.”

Madrid finished the year by winning the Club World Cup and beating Sevilla 4-2 in the league. A draw on Friday would be enough to put Ancelotti's team back in first place, tied on points with Atletico Madrid but ahead on goal difference. A win would leave Madrid in sole possession of the top spot and give it a five-point gap to third-placed Barcelona.

Corberán arrived from West Brom on a contract through June 2027 with the task of revitalizing Valencia and taking the club out of the relegation zone, though not even a win on Friday would be enough to move the team out of the bottom three. It trails 18th-placed Espanyol by three points.

The managerial change came after Valencia was held at home by Alavés in its last game of the year, prompting increased protests by fans against Lim, whom they accuse of using Valencia purely as a business venture.

“Being able to represent Valencia is a source of great pride and at the same time, a great responsibility,” Corberán said on his arrival. “As a Valencian, I know what this club means to the city, I know the passion Valencia fans have, and it is something that also fills me with responsibility.”

The Nov. 2 match against Madrid had to be postponed as Valencia's Mestalla Stadium became a base to help the victims of the flash floods that caused havoc in the region. The club also had Copa del Rey games postponed because of the floods.

Copa del Rey games Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will be playing round-of-32 games in the Copa del Rey on Saturday, with Atletico facing third-division club Marbella and Barcelona — which lost its last two league games of 2024 — taking on fourth-division team Barbastro.

Other La Liga clubs playing in the Copa del Rey this weekend include Sevilla, Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Athletic Bilbao, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad.

Madrid's Copa del Rey game against fifth-division club Deportiva Minera will be on Monday, while Valencia will play second-tier team Eldense on Tuesday.

 

 

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Bans Will Cost Mourinho 2 Games as Benfica Calls Punishment 'Unfair'

Benfica head coach José Mourinho (L) reacts during the Portuguese First League soccer match against FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 08 March 2026. EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES
Benfica head coach José Mourinho (L) reacts during the Portuguese First League soccer match against FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 08 March 2026. EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES
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Bans Will Cost Mourinho 2 Games as Benfica Calls Punishment 'Unfair'

Benfica head coach José Mourinho (L) reacts during the Portuguese First League soccer match against FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 08 March 2026. EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES
Benfica head coach José Mourinho (L) reacts during the Portuguese First League soccer match against FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, 08 March 2026. EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES

Jose Mourinho is set to miss Benfica’s next two games as punishment for his red card and subsequent confrontation with a Porto assistant coach in last Sunday’s contentious “O Clássico."

The Portuguese soccer federation’s disciplinary council issued two decisions that effectively ban the 63-year-old Benfica manager from the team's next two matches.

Mourinho was handed a one-match ban for his red card late in Sunday's 2-2 draw. He received it for leaving his technical area and kicking a ball toward Porto’s substitutes’ bench in celebration of a goal. Mourinho said he had tried to kick it into the stands.

Mourinho, no stranger to controversy, also received an 11-day suspension for his exchange with Porto assistant coach Lucho Gonzalez, The Associated Press reported.

The one-game ban takes effect for Benfica's game Saturday at Arouca. The 11-day suspension would rule him out of the March 21 match against Vitoria.

Portuguese media noted that the punishments cannot be served concurrently.

Benfica said it will appeal Thursday night's rulings. It called Mourinho’s punishment “unfair and unjustified.”

The disciplinary council noted that Mourinho sparked the clash with Gonzalez by making a gesture with his index finger and thumb and repeatedly saying “you are small.” Gonzalez responded by calling Mourinho, who coached Porto to the Champions League title in 2004, “a traitor.”

Gonzalez received a one-game ban and an eight-day suspension.

Sports

Election Draws Spotlight as Barca Host Sevilla

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scores his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Newcastle United and Barcelona in Newcastle, England, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scores his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Newcastle United and Barcelona in Newcastle, England, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP)
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Election Draws Spotlight as Barca Host Sevilla

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scores his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Newcastle United and Barcelona in Newcastle, England, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scores his side's first goal from the penalty spot during the Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Newcastle United and Barcelona in Newcastle, England, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP)

Barcelona welcome Sevilla on Sunday aiming to maintain their La Liga lead on Real Madrid, but the stakes are even higher off the field with the club's next president to be named that night.

Club members will vote for one of the two candidates, Joan Laporta or Victor Font, to determine the direction Barca head in the years to come.

Laporta, who resigned from his role as president a few weeks ago to begin his reelection campaign, is firm favorite to stay in charge.

Despite a year-long delay in doing so, Barcelona returned to their Camp Nou home a few months ago and on Sunday, the north stand will be opened for the first time.

The temporary capacity has been raised to nearly 63,000, with the end goal to host 105,000 once the top tier is finally completed.

Sevilla's visit comes in between Champions League last 16 ties against Newcastle, with Barca looking to build on this week's 1-1 away draw.

Having won a domestic treble last season but fallen just short in Europe, reaching the semi-finals, success in that competition is Barca's top objective this season. The Catalan giants have not won the Champions League since 2015.

As he did against Athletic Bilbao last weekend in La Liga, Hansi Flick may be inclined to rotate some of his squad to keep them fresh to face Newcastle, although injuries may limit his options.

One player on the way back is 21-year-old midfielder Gavi, who last played in August before suffering a knee injury. The once Real Betis youth player is hoping to be on the bench to face his former side's rivals.

Flick's team will also be out for revenge after Sevilla inflicted a heavy 4-1 defeat on them in October, their first of the league season.

Matias Almeyda's Sevilla are 14th, not completely safe from danger, and any points on the road at Camp Nou would be a bonus for them. They are unbeaten in five games but four of those have been draws.

Barcelona hold a four-point advantage on Los Blancos in second, which Alvaro Arbeloa's team will try to reduce on Saturday to intensify the title race.

Madrid, after thrashing Manchester City in the Champions League, host an Elche side in free-fall after a good start to the season, now sitting 17th and just one point above the drop zone.

One of the reasons Laporta is likely to retain his position is the performance of Flick's side since the German coach arrived in the summer of 2024.

Whether Barca shine or stumble against Sevilla on Sunday could influence some floating voters at the ballot boxes, with polls closing a few hours after the game.

Sports

Leverkusen Wrestle with Inconsistency as Brilliant Bayern Await

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round 16 - First Leg - Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - March 11, 2026 Bayer Leverkusen players applaud their fans after the match. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round 16 - First Leg - Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - March 11, 2026 Bayer Leverkusen players applaud their fans after the match. (Reuters)
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Leverkusen Wrestle with Inconsistency as Brilliant Bayern Await

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round 16 - First Leg - Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - March 11, 2026 Bayer Leverkusen players applaud their fans after the match. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round 16 - First Leg - Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal - BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany - March 11, 2026 Bayer Leverkusen players applaud their fans after the match. (Reuters)

Unpredictable Bayer Leverkusen host Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday, still battling the inconsistency which threatens to derail their top-four hopes.

The 2023-24 double winners have been a mixed bag this term and are still coming to terms with a close-season rebuild and the firing of coach Erik Ten Hag just two games into the campaign.

Leverkusen became the first team to avoid defeat against Arsenal in the Champions League this season in Wednesday's 1-1 last 16, first-leg draw.

When placed alongside their 2-0 win over Manchester City and a strong 2-2 home draw with Newcastle, those performances showed what Kasper Hjulmand's young side are capable of.

But domestically Leverkusen's progress has been undermined by lackluster showings against smaller teams -- and it may cost them a spot in next season's Champions League.

After dismantling RB Leipzig away in December, Leverkusen sat third and looked on track for the top four.

But Leverkusen have won just two of their past six Bundesliga matches and sit sixth, three points off the Champions League places.

Failing to secure Champions League football would be a major setback for a club who spent big in the summer, hoping to elevate themselves to a spot alongside Bayern and Dortmund in German football.

Even if the Bundesliga gets five Champions League spots, Leverkusen's chances hang in the balance, with Hoffenheim in third spot and both Stuttgart and Leipzig -- who play each other on Sunday -- above them in the table.

Facing Bayern in between matches against Premier League leaders Arsenal makes their task even harder.

"That's what we're here for. That's why we'll try to recover perfectly after each game and be 100 percent back, both physically and mentally," captain Robert Andrich said on Wednesday.

"We're looking forward to Bayern -- and also to heading to London."

Bayern have an 11-point buffer atop the table but have been hit by injuries.

Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Jonas Urbig joined Manuel Neuer and Hiroki Ito on the sidelines after picking up injuries in Tuesday's 6-1 Champions League demolition of Atalanta.

After missing two games with a knock, Harry Kane is set to return for Bayern.

He needs 12 goals in his remaining nine league games to beat Robert Lewandowski's single-season goalscoring record.

One to watch: Michael Olise

Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise scored two goals and laid on an assist in Tuesday's 6-1 Champions League win at Atalanta to continue his excellent season.

In a team packed full of attacking threats, Olise is a willing provider for Harry Kane and Luis Diaz, as well as being a goal threat himself.

Olise's achievements this year may have been overshadowed by Bayern's barnstorming form and Kane's pursuit of Lewandowski's record, but the France winger is on track for a milestone of his own.

In addition to 10 goals, Olise has 16 assists so far this league campaign -- five away from equaling Thomas Mueller's all-time Bundesliga record.

"When I'm in certain areas of the pitch the coach (Vincent Kompany) wants me to beat my man, to play, to shoot, to do what I want to do -- so I'd say I have the freedom in that sense, to do what I want," Olise told CBS.