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Barcelona Inches Closer to Madrid Rivals in Spanish League with 4-1 Win at Sevilla

Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on February 9, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)
Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on February 9, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)
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Barcelona Inches Closer to Madrid Rivals in Spanish League with 4-1 Win at Sevilla

Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on February 9, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)
Barcelona's Polish forward #09 Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Spanish league football match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville on February 9, 2025. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

Barcelona is making sure there will be a three-way fight for the Spanish league title.
The Catalan club moved closer to rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at the top of the standings on Sunday by routing Sevilla 4-1, The Associated Press reported.
Robert Lewandowski, Fermín López, Raphinha and Eric García scored a goal each as Barcelona took advantage of the 1-1 draw between Madrid and Atletico in the capital derby on Saturday.
Third-placed Barcelona is now two points behind leader Madrid and one point behind Atletico.
Barcelona had a comfortable away win despite playing with 10 men from the 62nd when López was sent off for a hard foul. The red card was shown after a video review.
It was the third straight league win for Barcelona, and its ninth victory in 11 matches across all competitions.
Sevilla, in 13th place, has won only one of its last five league games.
Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead in the seventh minute with his eighth goal in his last nine games in all competitions. Ruben Vargas equalized a minute later for the hosts before López put Barcelona back in front in the 46th. Raphinha added to the lead in the 55th and García sealed the win in the 89th.
“We needed to win to stay in contention and put some pressure on our rivals,” Barcelona defender Iñigo Martínez said. “The team is playing with a lot of confidence right now and we know that we can still improve. We need to stay on this track.”
Defender Jules Koundé made his 124th appearance for Barcelona, equaling the mark of Ludovic Giuly in fifth place for the most appearances for Barcelona by a French player. Éric Abidal tops that list with 193 appearances.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo had to be substituted about 20 minutes into the match with a right ankle injury.

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Sports

Cadillac Test at Imola with Perez Driving a 2023 Ferrari

13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Cadillac Test at Imola with Perez Driving a 2023 Ferrari

13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
13 November 2025, Italy, Imola: Mexican Formula One driver Sergio Perez, test drives Ferrari SF-23, the new Cadillac F1 car at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola. Photo: Federico Basile/LiveMedia-IPA/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Sergio Perez drove a Formula One car for the first time in almost a year on Thursday with the Mexican testing for Cadillac at Italy's Imola circuit in a 2023 Ferrari.

Cadillac do not have a previous car of their own but will be using Ferrari engines when they debut next season as Formula One's 11th team, with a lineup of Perez and Finland's Valtteri Bottas.

Photos published online showed an all-black car running unbranded at the circuit.

Perez wore black overalls and helmet.

The Mexican told Reuters earlier in the week that the session, his first since his last race for Red Bull in December 2024, was important for the team to practice procedures, refine the simulator and prepare for future race weekends.

"It's basically just a time for us to be able to get together with the engineers, mechanics, start working all together, you know, start talking the same language," said the experienced Mexican.

"I'm curious, you know, to find out how many laps my neck will do before it gets destroyed," he added with a smile. "But it's great, you know. It's a great test and a great way to finish the year before getting back in the car next year."

Bottas, also 35 and a multiple race winner, has also had a year away from racing after leaving Sauber but is currently Mercedes reserve and attending grands prix.

Sports

Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
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Turkish Soccer Imposes Temporary Bans on 102 Players over Betting Scandal

Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
Galatasaray’s Eren Elmali, left, and Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins jump for a header during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Galatasaray in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Turkish soccer temporarily banned 102 top-tier club players on Thursday over a widening betting scandal.

The Turkish Football Federation suspended 25 players from the Super Lig and 77 from the second-tier first division for terms ranging from 45 days to one year.

Galatasaray and Türkiye defender Eren Elmali was suspended for 45 days. Club teammate and Türkiye Under-21 center back Metehan Baltaci was suspended for nine months. Konyaspor and Senegal winger Alassane Ndao received a 12-month suspension.

Elmali posted on Instagram this week that he bet on a game about five years ago that did not involve his own team. He joined Galatasaray this year, The AP news reported.

Baltacı also admitted past bets but insisted they were not games he played in.

“Years ago I placed a bet at a time when I couldn’t fully grasp the seriousness of the matter," he said. “I want to make it clear that this action had nothing to do with matches played by the teams I represented.”

The bans apply to matches but the players can continue training, Haberturk television reported.

More than 1,000 players have been referred to the federation’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board in the ongoing investigation.

The federation has shut down the third- and fourth-tier divisions for two weeks but allowed the Super Lig — led by defending champion Galatasaray — and second tier to continue.

Federation president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu vowed this week to cleanse Turkish soccer from corruption, scandal and unethical practices.

“We took office 16 months ago with a promise to elevate Turkish football to the level it deserves," he said. “We will not compromise in our fight to protect Turkish football from scandal, decay, and corrupt relationships.”

Turkish soccer has been rocked by investigations into alleged widespread betting by referees, and now players, on games which is prohibited by FIFA.

More than 150 referees are alleged to have bet on games, including seven who are approved to handle top-level games and 15 top-level assistants.

The scandal is a setback to Turkish soccer's revival in recent years.

The country will co-host the men’s 2032 European Championship with Italy, the national team reached the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, and Istanbul has been picked by UEFA to stage several finals in European club competitions.

Sports

Qatar's Al Sadd Name Ex-Inter Boss Mancini as New Manager

Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
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Qatar's Al Sadd Name Ex-Inter Boss Mancini as New Manager

Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer
Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group C - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain - King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 15, 2024 Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini looks on REUTERS/Stringer

Al Sadd have appointed former Inter Milan and Italy boss Roberto Mancini as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-season deal, the Qatari club announced on Thursday.

Mancini takes the reins at Al Sadd, who sit sixth in the Qatari top-flight with 14 points from nine matches, eight adrift of table-toppers Al-Gharafa, according to Reuters.

His most successful spell as a manager came during his time with Inter. He led Inter to three Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Supercoppa Italiana triumphs during his first spell at the club between 2004-2008.

He also guided Italy to the 2020 European Championship title and led Manchester City to their first Premier League crown in the 2011-12 campaign.

Mancini was linked with the Nottingham Forest job before the Premier League club appointed Sean Dyche in October.