Barca Refuse to Dwell on Disappointing Draw, Says Flick

Real Betis' Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini (L) greets Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, on April 5, 2025. (AFP)
Real Betis' Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini (L) greets Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, on April 5, 2025. (AFP)
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Barca Refuse to Dwell on Disappointing Draw, Says Flick

Real Betis' Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini (L) greets Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, on April 5, 2025. (AFP)
Real Betis' Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini (L) greets Barcelona's German coach Hans-Dieter Flick during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, on April 5, 2025. (AFP)

Barcelona missed the chance to extend their lead in the LaLiga standings after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis on Saturday, with their coach Hansi Flick saying they should move on following the disappointing result.

The draw moved Barca to 67 points, four ahead of rivals Real Madrid who slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home by Valencia earlier on Saturday, while Atletico are third on 57 points with eight games to go.

"We tried everything to win, but we couldn't do it," Flick told reporters. "We were unlucky in front of goal, but ... we played a good game.

"On days like today, when you don't manage to score, you have to accept it and see it from a positive perspective. I'm left with the fact that we tried everything and dominated the game."

Flick said that he thinks his team is looking great as they face the final stretch of a season in which they are bidding to win three titles.

As well as leading LaLiga, they are still in contention for the Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.

"We can be proud of what the players have done these last few games," Flick said.

"We are in the (Spanish Cup) final and, despite a draw, we have extended our lead on top. I'm happy, it's a fantastic situation."



Lando Norris Wins, Nico Hulkenberg Makes History at British GP

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates winning the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at the at the Silverstone Circuit racetrack, Britain, 06 July 2025.  EPA/PETER POWELL .
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates winning the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at the at the Silverstone Circuit racetrack, Britain, 06 July 2025. EPA/PETER POWELL .
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Lando Norris Wins, Nico Hulkenberg Makes History at British GP

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates winning the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at the at the Silverstone Circuit racetrack, Britain, 06 July 2025.  EPA/PETER POWELL .
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates winning the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at the at the Silverstone Circuit racetrack, Britain, 06 July 2025. EPA/PETER POWELL .

McLaren's Lando Norris won his first British Grand Prix -- his home-country event -- in a race that had no shortage of twists and turns.

Beginning under dry skies that soon turned rainy at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire, England, the race also saw Germany's Nico Hulkenberg finish third. For the 37-year-old Kick Sauber driver, it was his first podium in 239 Formula One starts.

And the second-place finisher, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, put himself in great position when he passed polesitter Max Verstappen of Red Bull, but that all changed when Piastri was penalized 10 seconds for coming out of a safety car restart too slowly.

And for Brit Lewis Hamilton, the defending champion, it was a fourth-place finish at his home grand prix. It marked his first finish off the podium after 12 consecutive podiums at the event, with his late push falling short, Reuters reported.

Verstappen finished fifth, falling out of the top three following a spin off the course.

Norris won in one hour, 37 minutes and 15.735 seconds, finishing 6.812 seconds ahead of his Australian McLaren teammate.

Hulkenberg held off Hamilton by just over five seconds.

As expected, two of the top three finishers were overjoyed in their post-match comments -- with one not so much.

"It is beautiful. Apart from a championship, this is as good as it gets in terms of feelings," Norris said of the win in England. "Incredible race, stressful as always but the support from the fans made the difference so I have to thank them.

"The main thing is don't it up, that is rule number one. It might never happen again. Hope it does, but these are memories I'll have forever."

Hulkenberg was equally jubilant, especially since he started 19th on the grid.
"It's been a long time coming hasn't it?! What a race, coming from virtually last. ... Crazy conditions, survival mode all race. We were really on it, no mistakes," he said.

"Today, I was in denial until the last pit stop and then I heard we gapped Lewis so I thought OK, breathing space but then he was closing. The pressure was there, intense race but we didn't crack."

Piastri declined to go into details after the penalty, which he served at a pit.
"I'm not going to say much, I'll get myself in trouble," he said. "Congrats to Nico, that's the story.

"Apparently you can't brake behind the safety car anymore. I had done it for five laps before but I'm not going to say more, I'm going to get myself in trouble. I still like Silverstone even if I don't like it today."