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Alexis, in extremis! (3-2) | FC Barcelona
In their first game back after the international break, Barça chalked up their 12th straight league win and their fourth of this season to stay top of the table. It certainly wasn't all plain sailing though with an injury time winner from Alexis just edging it Barça's way, as the 76,765 saw their team suffer in the final few minutes.
Mascherano: "We were lucky, it won't always be like this" | FC Barcelona
The Blaugrana were made to sweat for the win in the dying minutes of the match due to Sevilla’s organised defence and ambitious play. Mascherano, one of the standout players of the night, said "we have to improve a lot, because of our errors they tied the match." From victory, to a draw and in added time, Alexis’ goal... all in all it was a nail-bitting finish.
Tata Martino: "If we play well as a group, the individuals shine" | FC Barcelona
After the narrow win over Sevilla (3-2), Martino said, "in the first half we did everything necessary to score, we created five very good goalscoring chances." But things changed in the second half: "Sevilla’s substitutions hurt us but we managed to find space to close out the match but we didn’t do it."
Jordi Alba picks up a thigh injury | FC Barcelona
According to the Club’s Medical Services, Jordi Alba picked up a thigh muscle tear in his right leg this evening. The left back abandoned the match against Sevilla on the 14th minute after a collision with Vitolo. The Catalan will undergo additional tests on Sunday to determine the extent of the injury. It’s worth noting that Barça’s next match is scheduled on Wednesday against Ajax (20.45).
Update: It has since been confirmed that the left back will be out of action for about three weeks
Official: Jordi Alba, who was subbed off against Sevilla yesterday, has a thigh muscle injury and will be out for around 3 weeks #fcblive
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) September 15, 2013
Strife between Johan Cruyff and Sandro Rosell doing Barcelona no good - ESPN FC
As a result, Cruyff has become a key figure within the Blaugrana community and, as such, his opinions have the power to influence the thoughts of many. Unfortunately, his words since he was sacked due to disagreements with former president Josep Lluis Nunez have regularly created unnecessary division among supporters.
Ajax win ahead of their visit to the Camp Nou (2-1) | FC Barcelona
The match was very even, and the Amsterdam-based team were held to a draw until the last 20 minutes of the game. On the 72nd minute, Thulani Serero opened up the scoring. Only three minutes later, Maikel van der Werff scored an own goal for Ajax’s second. The visiting team pulled one back on the 89th minute thanks to a strike from Gioannis Gravenbeek.
Cristiano Ronaldo agrees contract extension with Real Madrid | Football News | Sky Sports
The Portugal forward will appear alongside Real president Florentino Perez at a press conference later today at the Santiago Bernabeu, where details of Ronaldo's new deal are expected to be announced. Reports in the Spanish media suggest that the former Manchester United ace has agreed terms on a new three-year extension to his deal, which would commit him to the club until the summer of 2018.
Bale nets as Villarreal hold Real Madrid - Yahoo Eurosport UK
Gareth Bale scored on his Real Madrid debut, but Villarreal put forth an impressive performance to secure a 2-2 draw. The new world record signing was joined on the scoresheet by his predecessor, Cristiano Ronaldo, as the visitors came from a goal behind to take the lead against their newly-promoted hosts.
The men who stole the spotlight from Bale and Ronaldo | The Rundown - Yahoo Eurosport UK
The real answer at the final whistle, however, turned out to be the scarcely-mentioned ‘Option C’ – that Bale and Ronaldo would indeed both make their mark on the game, BUT would end up being upstaged by not one, but several other people.
Four in a row for Atletico | Sky Sports Football
David Villa got the goalscoring underway by netting with a quarter of an hour gone, before Diego Costa's penalty doubled the hosts' advantage. Rodri halved the deficit before half-time, but Atleti were far superior in the second period, with Tiago Mendes and Raul Garcia getting in on the act, before Alex Vidal got a late consolation goal.
Levante held again | ESPNFC.com
Levante played out their second home goalless draw of the new Primera Division season against Real Sociedad. Both sides hit the crossbar in the second half, Carlos Vela first of all from six yards, before home midfielder Papakouli Diop curled a free-kick against the frame late on.