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Barcelona could not have scripted a more poetic homecoming. After 909 days of exile, the Catalans returned to their beloved Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday night and marked the occasion with a resounding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao — a win that briefly lifted them to the summit of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid. The night belonged to history, emotion, and a team rediscovering its rhythm. Robert Lewandowski, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time in what was his 160th appearance for the club, carved his name into Camp Nou folklore by scoring the first goal at the renovated stadium. For Ferran Torres, this new era started with a flourish. The forward struck twice, both assisted by Yamal, who justified every bit of the hype surrounding him with a dazzling display of vision and composure. And as if to reaffirm Barcelona’s renewed strength, goalkeeper Joan García, back from injury, delivered a commanding performance to keep Bilbao at bay. Barca needed less than five minutes to trigger a new chapter in their storied home. Yamal drove forward with characteristic fearlessness before slicing open Bilbao’s defence with a brilliant through-ball. A quick series of passes followed, and Lewandowski, gliding into space, unleashed a powerful strike into the net to ignite the stadium. But the visitors refused to be mere spectators. Bilbao answered instantly with waves of attack, dominating nearly ten minutes and testing Barcelona’s defensive structure. In the 20th minute, Fermín’s low shot forced Unai Simón into action, and Dani Olmo sent the rebound narrowly wide. Four minutes later, Ferran Torres found the net but was denied by the offside flag. Bilbao’s biggest chance of the half arrived in the 36th minute when Unai Gómez failed to beat Joan García from close range. Moments later, Gómez’s long-range effort sailed over the bar, and in the 41st minute Nico Williams miscued his attempt from just outside the six-yard box. Then, just before the interval, Barcelona struck again. A counterattack led by Yamal set Ferran free, and although Simón got a hand to it, the ball rolled in to make it 2-0 at halftime. The second half began with Barcelona pouncing on a defensive error, allowing Fermín to coolly slot home their third goal of the night. Bilbao’s hopes unraveled further in the 54th minute when Oihan Sancet saw red for a reckless challenge on Fermín. Initially shown a yellow, the card turned red after VAR intervention. With a man advantage, Barcelona dominated possession and tempo, while Bilbao retreated into damage-control mode. Olmo came within inches of scoring in the 65th minute, but it was Ferran who completed the rout in stoppage time. Yamal once again orchestrated the move, and after a brief offside scare, VAR confirmed the goal. The victory took Barcelona to 31 points from 13 matches — level with Real Madrid but temporarily ahead on goal difference. Madrid, however, can reclaim the lead with at least a draw in their 13th-round fixture against Elche on Sunday, while a win would take them three points clear. Barcelona now shift their focus to Europe, travelling to London to face Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday. They will return home next Saturday for a La Liga fixture with Deportivo Alavés.  

Lionel Messi admits that he and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo are “constantly talking” about a future return to Barcelona. The Argentine maestro went viral on social media after posting a picture of himself strolling on the pitch of the new Camp Nou on Monday. It was a nighttime visit, completely unannounced. The greatest player in Barcelona’s history was back at his former home, where he had been “very happy”. Read more: 3 new faces in Argentina squad, Messi uncertain for upcoming friendlies Posting the photos and a short video, Messi wrote in the caption: “Last night I returned to a place I miss with all my soul. A place where I was incredibly happy, where you all made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over. I hope I can return someday, and not just to say goodbye as a player, like I never got to…” Messi made an emotional exit from Camp Nou in 2021 when, amid financial struggles for the LaLiga giants, no new contract could be signed. He moved to Paris with his family, before eventually heading to Miami. There has been talk over the last four years about a possible return in a playing capacity, but Messi has now committed to a contract in South Florida that will keep him in MLS through the 2028 campaign. While a playing comeback for the Blaugrana has become unrealistic, the 38-year-old superstar still intends to return to his spiritual home. With his secret tour of Barcelona’s iconic revamped stadium, speculation has surged once again. A day later, in an interview with the Spanish newspaper Diario SPORT, Messi discussed his unexpected departure, his hope of returning to Barcelona, and also spoke about the upcoming World Cup.

Barcelona entered the pitch at Balaídos aware that Real Madrid had dropped points against Rayo Vallecano. They successfully capitalized on the situation, closing the gap on La Liga summit to three points. The Catalans secured an important 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday night thanks to a hat-trick from Robert Lewandowski. Lamine Yamal netted the other goal, while Marcus Rashford provided two assists. Despite falling behind twice, Celta fought back each time before succumbing after Barcelona’s third goal. Lewandowski gave Barcelona the lead with a perfect spot-kick in the 10th minute after Marcos Alonso of Celta handled the ball in the box. However, Sergio Carreira took no time to equalize for the hosts through a counterattack. The Polish striker scored again in the 37th minute to make it 2-1, but defensive lapses haunted Hansi Flick’s side as Borja Iglesias restored parity six minutes later. Barcelona regained the lead before halftime when young sensation Lamine Yamal scored a superb goal. Barcelona resumed the second half with greater composure, controlling the tempo and piling pressure on Celta’s defense. Lewandowski sealed the victory in the 72nd minute, heading home a well-placed corner from Rashford with a spectacular back-header. The victory was slightly marred as Frenkie de Jong received a red card late in the match, ruling him out of the next game. Barcelona head into the international break sitting in second place with 28 points from 12 matches, three behind leaders Real Madrid. After the break, the Catalan giants will host Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou on November 22.

Real Madrid tasted their first defeat of the season in all competitions on Tuesday in the Champions League, losing 1-0 to Liverpool. Just three days later, they dropped points in La Liga against Rayo Vallecano. Xabi Alonso’s men were held to a goalless draw on Sunday in Vallecas after a colourless performance. With this result, their grip on the La Liga summit loosened as arch-rivals Barcelona can move within reach again with a win away at Celta Vigo. Los Blancos attempted a total of 21 shots with 54 percent possession but managed only five on target, while Rayo registered only two on target from 13 attempts. Arda Güler tested Batalla early with a 3rd-minute strike from outside the box. In the 20th minute, Andrei Ratiu missed a golden chance for Rayo, shooting straight at Thibaut Courtois despite having an unmarked teammate in front of goal. Two minutes later, Vinicius Junior’s dipping effort was kept out by Batalla’s sharp reflexes. Raul Asensio then failed to convert a close-range header in the 23rd minute. Neither side produced notable chances afterward in the first half. The tempo increased after the break. Jorge de Frutos’ shot went wide from a tight angle in the 50th minute, while Güler missed by inches three minutes later. In the 55th, Jude Bellingham’s near-post effort was denied by Batalla again. Real kept pressing but struggled to create clear openings inside the box. Fede Valverde’s 69th-minute long-range strike was pushed away by Batalla, and Éder Militão’s 87th-minute header was also gathered by the Rayo keeper. Güler’s final attempt in added time deflected wide. With the draw, Real Madrid still remain top with 31 points from 12 matches. Villarreal sit second with 26 from 12, while defending champions Barcelona are third with 25 from 11. They will play against Celta Vigo with an eye to narrowing the gap at the top.

Barcelona returned to winning ways after a frustrating 2-1 defeat in El Clásico last week, securing a 3-1 victory over Elche on Sunday. The win brought Barcelona within five points of arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table. The Catalans went ahead with two quick goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres in the 9th and 12th minutes respectively. Rafa Mir pulled one back for Elche three minutes before halftime, before Marcus Rashford sealed the victory for the Blaugrana in the 61st minute. Injury-plagued Barcelona had struggled to show character at the Santiago Bernabéu last week, but this time Hansi Flick’s men responded in style. Their intent to return to form was evident from the opening whistle, as they dominated the early stages. In the ninth minute, Alejandro Balde intercepted a misplaced pass in midfield and sent a precise through ball into the penalty area. Yamal controlled it between two defenders and fired a powerful shot past the goalkeeper to give Barcelona the lead. Barely two minutes later, Barcelona doubled their advantage. From the left flank, Fermín López’s low cross found unmarked Ferran Torres inside the six-yard box, and the winger calmly slotted home with his right foot. It was Ferran’s 50th goal wearing the Barca shirt. López, who had scored Barcelona’s only goal against Real Madrid the previous week, almost found the net again in the 33rd minute with a curling long-range effort that was superbly pushed away by the Elche goalkeeper. After spending most of the first half defending, Elche pulled one back in the 42nd minute with their first meaningful attack. Álvaro Núñez led a counter-attack and set up Rafa Mir, who drove into the box unchallenged and finished clinically into the far corner.

Kylian Mbappé struck twice as Real Madrid crushed Valencia 4-0 in their La Liga clash at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night, extending their dominant run under Xabi Alonso. Vinícius Júnior missed a first-half penalty, but the Brazilian’s miss barely mattered on a night when his teammates dazzled. Jude Bellingham and Álvaro Carreras also found the net as Los Blancos continued their fine form in both attack and defense. Real were in complete control throughout the game, enjoying nearly 65 percent possession and firing 21 shots, 11 of which were on target. Valencia never came close to challenging Real, managing just four attempts, with only one troubling the goalkeeper. The result strengthened Real’s position at the top of the table with 30 points from 11 matches, including 10 victories. In another fixture of the day, Villarreal thumped Rayo Vallecano 4-0 to climb to second place with 23 points from 11 games, overtaking Barcelona. The Catalan giants, with one match in hand, slipped to third with 22 points. Real’s aggressive start paid off in the 19th minute when César Tárrega handled the ball inside the box. Mbappé, who missed a spot kick against Barcelona last week, made no mistake this time to give his team the lead and register a goal in his eighth consecutive La Liga appearance.

FC Barcelona’s injury crisis deepened as Pedri González became the latest player to be sidelined, suffering a hamstring injury in his left thigh, the club said on Wednesday. Before the injury, the Canary Islander midfielder had missed only one game under coach Hansi Flick, featuring in 72 of a possible 73 matches, according to the club. Pedri is the only player in the squad to have surpassed 1,000 minutes this season, having started all 13 official matches and played nearly every minute. With very little rest, he now appears to have reached his physical limit. He had even worked out in the gym on Wednesday morning before the bad news arrived. “The first team player Pedri has suffered a tear in the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh. The player's recovery will dictate his return to action,” the club said in a statement. Pedri was already set to miss Sunday’s La Liga match against Elche due to a red card suspension in Sunday’s El Clásico, but the new injury means he will be sidelined for a much longer spell. The club has not provided a specific recovery timeline, but several Spanish media outlets report that he is not expected to return before the November international break, ruling him out of the Champions League clash against Club Brugge and the La Liga fixture against Celta Vigo. This news is a real headache for Hansi Flick, who loses his midfield metronome ahead of key fixtures. With Pedri sidelined, the number of injured Barcelona players has now climbed to eight, including Lewandowski, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, Christensen, Gavi, and Ter Stegen. Among them, Lewandowski is the only one nearing a return, having trained with the full squad on Wednesday. The Polish striker could feature against Elche after missing three games (against Girona, Olympiacos, and Madrid) due to an injury sustained during the last international break. Meanwhile, Dani Olmo and Joan Garcia have resumed light field training but will not be rushed back. Raphinha is also expected to return after the international break, following his injury in Oviedo on September 25.

Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has apologised to the club’s fans for his emotional reaction after being substituted during the team’s 2–1 El Clásico victory over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday. The 25-year-old Brazilian was taken off in the 72nd minute by coach Xabi Alonso and replaced by compatriot Rodrygo. As he left the pitch, Vinícius appeared visibly frustrated—gesticulating and shouting before heading straight into the dressing room. His behaviour drew mixed reactions across the football world, with some criticising the forward’s conduct and others defending his passion. Reports also suggested that relations between Alonso and Vinícius had deteriorated. The pair were expected to meet privately on Wednesday as the squad resumed training after a two-day break. Following the meeting, Vinícius took to social media to issue a public apology. “Today I want to apologise to all Madrid fans for my reaction to being substituted in El Clásico,” he wrote on X. “Just as I did in person during today’s training session, I also want to apologise again to my teammates, the club, and the president. “Sometimes my passion gets the better of me; I always want to win and help my team. My competitive nature stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. “I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since day one.” Vinícius has scored five goals and provided four assists in LaLiga this season, as his form improved over the last month. However, reports indicate that Alonso is not a strong admirer of the player, having left last year’s Ballon d’Or runner-up out of the starting lineup three times so far this campaign. Contract talks with the club have also reportedly stalled, with his current deal running until 2027. Meanwhile, ESPN reported that Real Madrid has decided not to impose any punishment or suspension over the player’s discourteous behaviour.

Barcelona entered the first El Clasico of the season having beaten their arch-rivals in all four meetings last season, but they fell apart at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, suffering a 2-1 defeat against a fired-up Real Madrid side. From the opening whistle, Real Madrid’s hunger for victory was evident. Xabi Alonso’s men played with high intensity and purpose, while Hansi Flick’s Barcelona lacked the drive and sharpness needed to challenge Madrid on their home turf. In truth, the visitors were fortunate to avoid a heavier defeat. Barcelona were also missing the guidance of their head coach, as Hansi Flick served a one-match suspension following a red card in their previous game. Their woes were compounded by injuries to key players including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Andreas Christensen, and goalkeeper Joan García. Madrid began the match on the front foot, pressing aggressively and creating early danger. They earned a penalty inside the opening five minutes, but it was denied after a VAR review. Moments later, Kylian Mbappé found the net with a stunning long-range strike in the 12th minute, but VAR again ruled the effort out for offside. Bayern break record, extend perfect run against 10-man Gladbach Despite the early setbacks, Real Madrid continued to dominate a disjointed Barcelona side. Their persistence paid off in the 22nd minute when Jude Bellingham split the defense with a precise through ball, allowing Mbappé to fire home a legitimate opener. Barcelona found a response in the 38th minute through Fermin, who capitalized on a superb build-up led by Marcus Rashford. However, Madrid restored their lead just five minutes later. Vinícius Jr. drove down the left flank and delivered a pinpoint cross, which Bellingham guided into the net from a clever pass by Éder Militão. Los Blancos went into halftime with a 2-1 advantage, and it could easily have been more. Barcelona struggled to cope with Madrid’s pressing. Barca’s young winger Lamine Yamal managed to touch the ball just once inside the opposition box during the first half. Early in the second half, Real Madrid were awarded another penalty after Eric García handled the ball with hand inside the box while attempting to block Bellingham. However, Wojciech Szczęsny denied Mbappé’s spot kick, keeping Barcelona in the competition. Sunderland stun Chelsea with stoppage time winner to go second in EPL Madrid thought they had extended their lead in the 68th minute when Bellingham finished off a swift counterattack, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Barcelona improved after the break, showing more energy and control in possession. Despite dominating the ball for long spells, they lacked pace and precision in the final third, failing to break through Madrid’s disciplined defense. So, Bellingham’s second goal remained the difference as Real Madrid fans left the stadium with a wide smile. With the win, Real Madrid moved five points clear at the top of the La Liga table, leading with 27 points from 10 matches. Barcelona remain second with 22 points.  

Kylian Mbappe’s second-half strike secured Real Madrid a hard-fought 1–0 victory over nine-man Getafe on Sunday night, restoring Los Blancos to the top of La Liga after a dramatic clash at the Coliseum. The match turned chaotic in the final quarter-hour when Getafe saw two players sent off within seven minutes. Substitute Allan Nyom was dismissed less than a minute after coming on for elbowing Vinicius Junior. Shortly after, Mbappe broke the deadlock, finishing clinically through the goalkeeper’s gloves after racing onto a precise through ball from Arda Güler. Getafe’s woes deepened in the 84th minute when Álex Sáncris picked up a second yellow card and was also sent off. Real Madrid were far from their fluent best in the first half, struggling to convert possession into clear chances. They grew stronger after halftime, ultimately producing 23 attempts on goal — 10 on target — while limiting Getafe to just one shot on goal. Mbappe had several early opportunities, including an angled strike in the 8th minute and a long-range shot moments later, both denied by the Getafe keeper. David Alaba also came close with a curling free-kick just before halftime. Manchester United stun Liverpool at Anfield Manager Xabi Alonso’s introduction of Vinicius Junior in the second half added energy to the attack, and the breakthrough finally arrived after Nyom’s reckless foul left Getafe a man short. Despite being reduced to nine men, the hosts nearly stole a late equalizer when Abou Kamara found space in stoppage time, but Thibaut Courtois came off his line to make a crucial save and preserve Madrid’s lead. With eight wins from nine matches, Real Madrid climbed back to the top of the table with 24 points, two ahead of Barcelona, who sit on 22. The two giants will face off next Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu in the season’s first El Clásico — a match that could prove pivotal in the title race.