Laia Cervelló Herrero
@laiacervello.bsky.social
📤 1294
📥 66
📝 90
Journalist | FC Barcelona correspondent at The Athletic
reposted by
Laia Cervelló Herrero
The Athletic | Football
1 day ago
Marcus Rashford was left out of Barcelona’s starting line-up to face Getafe on Sunday night after arriving late to training on the morning of the game. Full story from
@laiacervello.bsky.social
⬇️
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Marcus Rashford left out of Barcelona line-up after arriving late to training
Hansi Flick has a policy of not selecting players who are late, with Raphinha and Jules Kounde among those to previously be punished.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6649435/?source=bsky_uk
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Barça will play their first home game at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. What do we know about the venue? What is it like?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
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Barcelona's 6,000-capacity emergency 'home' ground covering for the Camp Nou
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6616874/2025/09/11/barcelona-stadium-la-liga-valencia-johan-cruyff/
11 days ago
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La Liga is back and Barça will play his 1st match at home this season at their 6,000-seat stadium will hold the game. @polballus and I will be responding anything you want to ask us, so drop your questions in the link below.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
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Send in your Barcelona questions for our writers Pol Ballus and Laia Cervello Herrero
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6610350/2025/09/11/barcelona-la-liga-writers-q-and-a/
12 days ago
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reposted by
Laia Cervelló Herrero
The Athletic | Football
14 days ago
We still don’t know where Sunday’s match against Valencia will take place.
@polballus.bsky.social
and
@laiacervello.bsky.social
explain the latest on where will Barcelona's home matches will be played, and much more, in this week's edition of Inside Barca. 🔗
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
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Last weekend Liga F debuted FVS, a simpler type of VAR that works on demand. How does it differ from VAR? What advantages and problems did it give on the first matchday?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/659...
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Liga F's 'VAR-lite' system and how it works: Two challenges per team, manager cards but long delays
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6597749/2025/09/06/liga-f-var-challenges-system-explained/
16 days ago
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Oriol Romeu's departure has been made official today. FC Barcelona and the player have reached an agreement to terminate his contract.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
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Barcelona confirm Romeu departure after contract termination
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6602135/2025/09/05/oriol-romeu-barcelona-contract-termination/
17 days ago
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Many people are asking what is happening to the Barça women's team these days. The sale of so many players, some surprising ones like Fridolina Rolfo. Here are some answers so you can understand what is going on.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
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Why Barcelona only have 17 active player contracts - with more departures expected
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6554668/2025/08/15/barcelona-women-liga-f-finance/
about 1 month ago
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We are launching a new weekly series of articles to follow throughout the 2025-26 La Liga season. We explain the latest on Barca’s player registration issues, their plans to finally return to the Camp Nou in September and more.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
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Inside Barcelona: Your new weekly guide to the biggest talking points and latest info
This week, our writers explain the latest on Barca’s registration issues, their plans to return to the Camp Nou next month and more
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6559737/2025/08/18/barcelona-mallorca-la-liga-camp-nou-rashford/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Laia Cervelló Herrero
The Athletic
about 1 month ago
@laiacervello.bsky.social
explains what’s happening with the team, why players are leaving and if the financial issues are to be blamed on the men’s team.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
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What’s happening at Barcelona?: Only 17 active player contracts and more departures expected
Barcelona Femeni are one of Europe’s elite teams. But despite the accolades, they have already said goodbye to six key players this summer
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6554668/2025/08/15/barcelona-women-liga-f-finance/
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Hansi Flick about Fermin Lopez: "I wasn't thrilled with him in pre-season, but he's improved a lot in recent weeks". 🤔
about 1 month ago
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FC Barcelona will kick off their season tomorrow at RCD Mallorca, so now is a good time to ask any questions you may have. Write them all here and
@polballus.bsky.social
and I will answer them shortly. 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/655...
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Barcelona 2025-26 season preview: Live Q&A with Pol Ballus and Laia Cervello Herrero
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6553745/2025/08/15/barcelona-2025-26-season-preview-q-and-a/
about 1 month ago
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Marc Bernal could be the new breakout of the season. For Flick he is his 2nd choice at defensive pivot after De Jong and he has expectations on him. He was supposed to be the breakout of last season but got injured. Barcelona see him as the new Busquets.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...
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Barcelona’s breakout star for 2025-26: Marc Bernal looking to put 346 days of injury hell behind him
The 18-year-old La Masia graduate midfielder suffered an ACL injury this time last year. Now, he is back and better than ever
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6546344/2025/08/12/barcelona-marc-bernal-breakout-injury/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Laia Cervelló Herrero
The Athletic | Football
about 2 months ago
The world champions may have lost to England in the final but this summer represents a huge step forward for the women's game in Spain. 📝
@laiacervello.bsky.social
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Spain may not have won – but at least this tournament shows how much has changed
For years, Spain's players were hampered by a lack of off-field support. But Euro 2025 showed their fight for elite conditions has paid off
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6518337/?source=bsky_uk
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reposted by
Laia Cervelló Herrero
Michael Cox
about 2 months ago
Forgot to post this the other day...a profile of Patri Guijarro, probably the most consistent player at Euro 2025. With
@laiacervello.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
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Will Patri Guijarro be the next Spain midfielder to win the Ballon d’Or?
In both the men’s and women’s game, Spanish midfielders have a hold over the award. Guijarro could be next in line
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6508438/2025/07/23/patri-guijarro-spain-euros
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Spain did not win the final, but this Euro felt different. The soundtrack in the dressing room was 'El principio de algo' (the beginning of something) by La La Love You and this is just what this Euro was. All the changes Spain has made in 2 years.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/651...
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Spain may not have won - but at least this tournament shows how much has changed
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6518337/2025/07/28/spain-euro-2025-how-things-have-changed/
about 2 months ago
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Paralluelo is in front of the chance of winning the only title she has yet to win, and at just 21 years old: the Euros. Months ago she had to take a break, her body simply couldn't take any more. I chatted with her about how giving up athletics affected her body.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/650...
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Paralluelo interview: 'I couldn't give my all because of the pain. I had to stop'
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6506976/2025/07/22/salma-paralluelo-interview-spain-euro-2025/
2 months ago
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One of the secrets of Spain's success is having a core group of players from the same team behind it, and that team is one of the best in Europe, FC Barcelona. How many FC Barcelona players play for Spain? Why is that, and what are the pros and cons?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
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The Barcelona effect on Spain: The pros and cons of a club dominating the national side
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6494615/2025/07/16/spain-barcelona-euro-2025/
2 months ago
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Aitana Bonmati is in great shape for the final stretch of the Euro and we interviewed her before she faces Switzerland. This is how she experienced the meningitis she suffered days before the start of the Euro. How was her prodigious recovery?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
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Aitana Bonmati interview: 'I found myself in a situation of suffering. You feel alone'
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6499795/2025/07/17/aitana-bonmati-interview-meningitis/
2 months ago
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The case of Laia Balleste is an interesting story. She has dual Spanish and Swiss nationality, and decided to play for Switzerland. A Swiss grandfather who had to move to Catalonia due to illness. An emotional debt to her maternal family.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
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The Spain-born player who earned a last-minute call-up... for Switzerland
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6495888/2025/07/17/laia-balleste-spain-switzerland/
2 months ago
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I keep thinking about Alexia's flick and Athenea's goal. Is it the best goal of this Euro so far? I wrote about it after the match.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
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Was Del Castillo's equaliser for Spain the best goal of the Women's Euros so far?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6489098/2025/07/12/athenea-del-castillo-spain-italy-analysis/
2 months ago
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Barça will return to Camp Nou this season. We explain what the return will be like and the questions that still remain to be answered.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
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Can Barcelona really return to the Camp Nou next month?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6468756/2025/07/08/barcelona-camp-nou-stadium-return-joan-gamper/
3 months ago
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One of Barça's most promising young talents is playing this Euro at home: Sydney Schertenleib. We spoke to the scout who discovered her in 2022 and how negotiations began with a DM on Instagram: "You didn’t need a special eye because she stood out so much".
www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
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Switzerland's Sydney Schertenleib, an Instagram DM and why Barca wasted no time signing her
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6468046/2025/07/06/sydney-schertenleib-switzerland-barcelona/
3 months ago
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Plot twist of events: Nico has renewed for Athletic Club for 10 years
www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...
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Nico Williams turns down Barcelona transfer, signs eight-year Athletic extension
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6448217/2025/07/04/nico-williams-transfer-athletic-club-barcelona/
3 months ago
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Today Spain makes its Euro debut, and it does so without Jennifer Hermoso. Without her, who is the team's next top scorer? Here are my candidates.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
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With Jenni Hermoso left out, who will be Spain’s star striker at Euro 2025?
Hermoso was key at the World Cup in 2023, scoring three times and winning the Silver Ball award for the second-best player of the tournament
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6462765/2025/07/03/spain-euro-2025-hermoso-strikers/
3 months ago
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reposted by
Laia Cervelló Herrero
The Athletic | Football
3 months ago
Spain defender Irene Paredes will miss her side’s 2025 European Championship opener against Portugal due to a red card she received 12 months earlier. More from
@laiacervello.bsky.social
⬇️
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Why Irene Paredes will miss Spain’s Euro 2025 opener – for a red card received 12 months ago
Paredes, 33, will serve the second of a two-game suspension during Thursday's group stage fixture.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6468590/2025/07/02/irene-paredes-spain-suspension-european-championship/?source=bsky_uk
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And here is the radar of the competition, made by The Athletic's women's football writters. A lot of hard work and a lot of analysis. I leave you the link below 👇🏼
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...
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The Radar - Women's Euro 2025: The Athletic picks 25 players to watch
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6437719/2025/06/30/the-radar-womens-euro-2025-players-to-watch/
3 months ago
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So Euros have officially started. Spain makes its debut tomorrow against Portugal and here is a guide to everything you need to know.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...
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Euro 2025: Spain team guide - have things finally settled for the World Cup winners?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6437679/2025/06/23/spain-team-guide-euro-2025/
3 months ago
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I'm back from holiday with some bad news...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
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Spain's Bonmati diagnosed with viral meningitis ahead of Euro 2025
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6458422/2025/06/28/aitana-bonmati-spain-euro-2025/
3 months ago
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Barcelona are back on top thanks to a group of players that made the fans believe again. We spoke to some of their first coaches to hear about this group of champions’ early years in football…
www.nytimes.com/athletic/638...
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Barcelona's title-winners – by the early coaches who helped shape them
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6387449/2025/05/29/barcelona-la-liga-winners-young-coaches/
4 months ago
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Barça was the best team in La Liga and the winner of the “honest title”. These are the 5 moments that defined the season: ◾️The Clásico of the offsides ◾️Shit November ◾️The comebacks ◾️Kounde's goal in the CR final ◾️Yamal's blossoming against Inter
www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...
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The five moments that defined Barcelona’s La Liga-winning season
It has been a brilliant season for Barca. Here, we chart the ups and downs of their title triumph...
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6356086/2025/05/15/barcelona-la-liga-title-win-five-moments/
4 months ago
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Barça is out of the Champions League, but they did so to the applause of fans who proudly bid farewell to their European campaign. ‘Where others see the end, we see the beginning of the comeback,’ Iñigo said after the game. And, in fact, we all agree.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...
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Barcelona lost to Inter, but won back respect – this is ‘the beginning of the comeback’
While Barcelona's treble dreams may have been dashed, this loss is by no means a catastrophe for Hansi Flick's team - there is more to come
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6339078/2025/05/07/barcelona-inter-champions-league/
5 months ago
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Triplete is one of the most repeated words in Barcelona since the Copa del Rey final. Barça could win it again but that's not all. The club could achieve a treble of trebles in its men's, women's and youth team (already achieved) When could that happen?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
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How Barca could win a treble of trebles across men's, women's, youth teams
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6326641/2025/05/02/barcelona-treble-champions-league/
5 months ago
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Barcelona has won the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid and taken the first step towards regaining the treble. Kounde, the unexpected hero. ‘Viva la vida’ rang out once again in celebration, the soundtrack to Pep Guardiola's treble.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...
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Barcelona have taken their first step towards a treble. Can they do it?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6314933/2025/04/27/barcelona-treble-copa-del-rey/
5 months ago
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Leo Román is playing the game of his life. Barça could easily be 4-0 up but they are 1-0 instead.
5 months ago
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Ansu Fati is a starter against Mallorca.
5 months ago
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Lamine Yamal and Gavi are at the Estadi Johan Cruyff watching the women's team play the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals. Club players.
5 months ago
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Yesterday Flick again chose Fermin over Gavi in Leganes. How is Gavi managing this season after returning from injury? His new role and his special relationship with Hansi Flick.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...
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Gavi isn't a regular starter for Barcelona right now but is embracing his role
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6275569/2025/04/13/gavi-barcelona-hansi-flick-minutes/
5 months ago
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Lamine Yamal is 17 years old and is already a superstar. A talent that goes beyond figures and statistics. Barcelona are inches away from the Champions League semi-finals, and so is Yamal. His elegant finish in the 4-0 and his game against BD 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...
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Lamine Yamal is a superstar at 17. Barcelona and Flick need to look after him for the run-in
Lamine Yamal shone for Barcelona against Borussia Dortmund as they won 4-0 on Wednesday evening
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6269078/2025/04/10/lamine-yamal-barcelona-champions-league/
6 months ago
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Together with a lawyer, we explain the details of the new sentence for Dani Alves that absolves him of the crime of sexual assault 13 months after being sentenced to 4 years in prison. Why did the sentence make a 180 degree turn?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/625...
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Explained: Why a Spanish court overturned Dani Alves' prison sentence for sexual assault
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6257015/2025/04/06/dani-alves-sexual-assault-acquittal-prison-explainer/
6 months ago
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Gavi has been very involved in the team's needs despite the fact that his prominence has diminished this season. He accept it, he work for the team without losing Flick's trust. What a well-deserved goal!
6 months ago
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You can feel the excitement in Barcelona. As soon as the referee blew the final whistle in the match that saw Real Madrid lose against Valencia, firecrackers and fireworks were let off in my neighbourhood.
6 months ago
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Hansi Flick arrived in Barcelona to be an oasis of calm in a hectic club. Why has the team changed so much in one season? What has the German brought to it? His adaptation to Barcelona and his changes to the team dynamics down here 👇 w/
@polballus.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...
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How Hansi Flick fixed Barcelona's season and put them firmly in the hunt for three trophies
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6238724/2025/04/02/barcelona-flick-style-tactics-decision/
6 months ago
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Alejandro Balde is at the top of his game. He has put the physical discomfort of last season behind him. Why is he a key part of Hansi Flick's system? Why wasn't he called up by Luis de la Fuente for Spain? 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...
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Alejandro Balde is nicknamed 'the plane' - his rise has been as rapid
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6238137/2025/03/31/barcelona-alejandro-balde-rise/
6 months ago
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Gavi being Gavi
6 months ago
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reposted by
Laia Cervelló Herrero
The Athletic | Football
6 months ago
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong wants to stay at the club and is in talks over a new contract. While a breakthrough is yet to be reached, De Jong is very happy with life in Barcelona and feels very settled with his family.
@polballus.bsky.social
🔗
www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...
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Barca achieved an important victory against Atletico in their race for the La Liga title. They learnt and matured from the two matches against Atletico this season. Lamine Yamal scored again in La Liga when the team needed him most. The team's faith.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/620...
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Lamine Yamal steps up for ‘Baby Barca’ as Hansi Flick’s side take control of La Liga title race
The 17-year-old superstar scored the crucial goal in the 92nd minute as Barcelona overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Atletico in Madrid
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6209180/2025/03/17/barcelona-atletico-la-liga-title-race?source=emp-shared-article
6 months ago
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At the beginning of the season, Hansi Flick installed a big screen at FC Barcelona's training ground. ◾️What do they use it for? ◾️How and in what way has it benefited them? 👇
www.nytimes.com/athletic/619...
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The 25ft screen powering Hansi Flick's Barca revolution
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6197673/2025/03/13/barcelona-hansi-flick-big-screen/
6 months ago
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We shouldn't forget that this guy is cleaning the boots of the 16-year-old player who took his place on the right wing last year when it should have been his year after Dembele left. Huge respect.
6 months ago
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A month and a half later, Szczesny went from being the player singled out to hero. He returned to Lisbon to redeem himself. He saved all eight Benfica shots and was decisive for Barça, with 10 men, to win the match with a clean sheet.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...
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Wojciech Szczesny’s journey from retirement to a Lisbon nightmare to Barca’s eight-save hero
Against Benfica in the Champions League in January, the goalkeeper played his worst game for Barca - but in March, he had his best game.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6179270/2025/03/06/wojciech-szczesny-barcelona-champions-league?source=emp-shared-article
7 months ago
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Gerard Martin opened the scoring in Barça's 4-0 win over Real Sociedad that puts them top of La Liga. He scored his first professional goal. The (unfulfilled) promises of his teammate if he scored. How he has gained the trust of Rafa Márquez and Hansi Flick.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...
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How Gerard Martin became Barcelona’s unlikely hero – for a day, at least
The left-back was as surprised as anyone at scoring against Real Sociedad, but it was a reward for years of hard work
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6170514/2025/03/03/barcelona-gerard-martin?source=emp-shared-article
7 months ago
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