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Lewandowski Strikes Twice for Champion Barcelona but Can’t Catch Mbappé for Scoring Title 

Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - May 25, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - May 25, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal. (Reuters)
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Lewandowski Strikes Twice for Champion Barcelona but Can’t Catch Mbappé for Scoring Title 

Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - May 25, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - LaLiga - Athletic Bilbao v FC Barcelona - San Mames, Bilbao, Spain - May 25, 2025 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski scores their first goal. (Reuters)

Barcelona capped its title-winning campaign with a 3-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice, but falling short of catching Kylian Mbappé as the Spanish league's top scorer for the season.

Lewandowski found the net in the 14th and 17th minutes in Bilbao to finish the league season with 27 goals, four fewer than Mbappé, who scored twice in Madrid's 2-0 win against Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Lewandowski, who was out injured in some recent matches, hadn't scored since April 9 in a Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. His last league goal was in March against Girona.

Lewandowski had led the scoring race during most of the season, but Mbappé finished with a red-hot run that included 10 goals in his last six matches.

Barcelona finished with a goal-difference of plus 63 after scoring 102 times and conceding 39. It won 28 matches, drew four and lost six.

It ended with 88 points, four points more than second-placed Madrid and 12 points more than third-placed Atletico Madrid.

Athletic had already secured a fourth-placed finish to secure a Champions League spot for the first time in a decade.

‘Under control’

The 36-year-old Lewandowski reached 101 goals in total across all competitions in his three seasons with Barcelona. He had 42 this year after scoring 26 last season and 33 in his debut campaign.

“We had it under control,” Lewandowski said. “This season was almost perfect. We have to enjoy this moment.”

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised his team.

“We wanted to finish like we started it, like we performed during the season, and they did a great job,” Flick said.

Levante promoted

Carlos Álvarez scored seven minutes into stoppage time as Levante won 3-2 at Burgos to seal its promotion to the first division three years after being relegated.

Levante rallied for the victory after trailing 2-1 up to the 85th minute. It secured one of the top two spots in the second tier to automatically advance to the first division.

Relegation and European places

Saturday's matches decided the final European places and the last relegated team. Leganes was demoted after Las Palmas and Valladolid had already been relegated in advance. Celta Vigo grabbed the final Europa League spot and Rayo Vallecano earned the Conference League place.

Barcelona, Madrid, Atletico, Athletic and Villarreal will play in the Champions League next season. Real Betis got the other Europa League spot.

Atletico finished the season with a 4-0 win at Girona with a hat trick by striker Alexander Sorloth. He had scored four goals in a 4-0 win over Real Sociedad earlier this month.

Sorloth, often used as a substitute by Atletico coach Diego Simeone, ended with 20 goals, fourth in the league's scoring list. Ante Budimir of Osasuna was third with 21 goals, six fewer than Lewandowski and 10 fewer than Mbappé.

Fifth-placed Villarreal beat 17th-placed Sevilla 4-2 with a pair of goals by Pape Gueye.

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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."