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Barcelona Returns to Top of La Liga with 1-0 Win over Rayo Vallecano

Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
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Barcelona Returns to Top of La Liga with 1-0 Win over Rayo Vallecano

Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Soccer Football - LaLiga - FC Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - February 17, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Albert Gea

Barcelona returned to the top of the Spanish league on goal difference on Monday after Robert Lewandowski's first-half penalty secured a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
The Catalan club took advantage of weekend slip-ups by Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid to move onto 51 points, the same as Madrid and a point clear of Atlético, The Associated Press reported.
Madrid drew 1-1 at Osasuna on Saturday and Atletico was held by the same score at home by Celta Vigo.
Barcelona took the lead after 27 minutes when Pathe Ciss brought down Íñigo Martínez in the box, and a penalty was awarded after a video review. Lewandowski sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
Both sides had chances to score after that.
Augusto Batalla saved well from Lamine Yamal, who was playing the 100th game of his career, while at the other end Jorge De Frutos had the ball in the net for Rayo only to see it ruled out for offside.
De Frutos was always dangerous for Rayo but as the game went on the home side took control as it extended its unbeaten run to 12 matches.
The defeat ended Rayo nine-game unbeaten streak that stretched back to Dec 7.

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Ferrari Boss Says Hamilton and Leclerc Need to 'Focus on Driving and Talk Less'

John Elkann, Chairperson of Ferrari, attends the Allen and Company Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference at The Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo P
John Elkann, Chairperson of Ferrari, attends the Allen and Company Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference at The Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo P
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Ferrari Boss Says Hamilton and Leclerc Need to 'Focus on Driving and Talk Less'

John Elkann, Chairperson of Ferrari, attends the Allen and Company Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference at The Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo P
John Elkann, Chairperson of Ferrari, attends the Allen and Company Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference at The Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho, US, July 9, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo P

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc need to “focus on driving and talk less,” Ferrari executive chairman John Elkann warned Monday after both of the team’s drivers failed to finish the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The results dropped Ferrari down to fourth in the constructors’ standings and left both Hamilton and Leclerc winless this season.

Hamilton, who has been critical of his team all season, called the weekend “a nightmare.”

Leclerc said he was “not happy” and called his car “very slow” after struggling in sprint qualifying, Reuters reported.

Hamilton had to retire midrace due to damage to his car, while Leclerc also went out with damage after getting caught up in a collision between Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli.

Elkann addressed Ferrari’s troubles on the sidelines of a sponsorship announcement between Stellantis and the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

“Brazil was a big disappointment but if we look at the season we can say that our mechanics are actually winning the championship with the performances that they’ve made in terms of pole positions and pit stops,” Elkann said. “There’s no doubt that the car has improved.

“If we look at everything else, it’s not up to standards,” Elkann added. “It’s important that our drivers focus on driving and talk less.”

Ferrari will go winless this season if neither Hamilton nor Leclerc see the checkered flag at the last three races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

“We have some big races remaining and it’s not impossible to finish second,” Elkann said, referring to the constructor’s standings, where it’s a tight race between Mercedes (398 points), Red Bull (366) and Ferrari (362).

McLaren is far ahead in first with 756 points.

Sports

Messi Visits Barca's Revamped Camp Nou, Hopes to Return

Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Bolivia - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 15, 2024 Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Bolivia - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 15, 2024 Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
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Messi Visits Barca's Revamped Camp Nou, Hopes to Return

Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Bolivia - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 15, 2024 Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Bolivia - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 15, 2024 Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)

Lionel Messi expressed his wish to one day return to Barcelona's Camp Nou on Monday, having made a brief visit to see the newly revamped stadium where he spent 21 years of his illustrious career.

The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner, who joined Barca's youth academy at age 13 and went on to become the club's all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances, left the Catalan side in 2021 when they could not make it financially viable to keep him.

Having won 10 LaLiga titles, four Champions League crowns and three Club World Cups with Barca, Messi now plays for Inter Miami after two years with Paris St Germain, Reuters reported

Barca reopened the Camp Nou on Friday, 895 days after its closure, unveiling a revamped stadium by staging an open training session attended by 21,795 fans.

"Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart. A place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel a thousand times like the happiest person in the world," the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner wrote on Instagram on Monday.

"I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do."

Messi extended his contract with Inter Miami in October, and has previously said that the Major League Soccer club would likely be his last.

"You're always welcome at your home, Leo," Barca posted on X.

Sports

Apollo to Become Majority Shareholder in Atletico Madrid

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 24, 2025 General view outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 24, 2025 General view outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
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Apollo to Become Majority Shareholder in Atletico Madrid

Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 24, 2025 General view outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
Soccer Football - LaLiga - Atletico Madrid v Rayo Vallecano - Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 24, 2025 General view outside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

US fund Apollo's sports investment arm Apollo Sports Capital has agreed to become the majority shareholder in top-tier Spanish football club Atletico Madrid, the club said on Monday, without disclosing any financial details.

A source close to the deal said it would value the whole of the club at approximately 2.5 billion euros ($2.9 billion), with Apollo acquiring roughly 55% from existing shareholders.

The deal marks the latest venture into sports by private equity firms, attracted by their stable and predictable revenue streams, according to Reuters.

CLUB CEO, PRESIDENT TO REMAIN IN THEIR ROLES

The club's CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin and President Enrique Cerezo will remain in their roles and as shareholders, Atletico said, and the investment is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

Sources told Reuters in September the US firm sought to take control of the club by acquiring part of stakes owned by Gil Marin, Cerezo, and, possibly, from investment fund Ares Management.

Until now, Atlético HoldCo held about 70% of the club, with Gil Marin, Ares and Cerezo owning 50.8%, 34% and 15.2%, respectively. Quantum Pacific held 27.8% outside the group.

"We are equally excited to remain minority investors and continue providing strategic support as the club builds on its momentum," Ares Sport's co-head and director on Atlético HoldCo's board Jim Miller told Reuters.

A&O Shearman acted as legal counsel to Apollo Sports Capital. ECIJA acted as legal counsel to Gil Marin and Cerezo.