MADRID: Needing a win to stay in control of the Spanish league, Atlético Madrid stumbled again on Sunday with a 2-1 loss to Athletic Bilbao, giving Barcelona a chance to take over the lead.
Not even the return of Luis Suárez and João Félix was enough for Diego Simeone’s team, which could drop to second on Thursday when Barcelona plays eighth-place Granada at home.
Barcelona put pressure on Atlético by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Villarreal earlier Sunday, getting within two points of the lead with a game in hand. Antoine Griezmann scored both goals for the Catalan club.
Atlético will visit Barcelona in two rounds’ time.
“We did all we could,” Atlético captain Koke Resurrección said. “We will keep fighting until the end. We have five matches left and we know that we can win them.”
Defending champion Real Madrid was held 0-0 against Real Betis on Saturday but also remains in contention. It is in second place, level on points with Barcelona and two behind Atlético. Also still in the title race is Sevilla, which defeated Granada 2-1 to stay only three points off the lead.
Atlético had won two straight to remain at the top, but it couldn’t recover after conceding early at Athletic’s San Mamés Stadium. Álex Berenguer opened the scoring for the hosts in the eighth minute.
Atlético equalized with a header by Stefan Savic off a corner kick in the 77th, but Iñigo Martínez’s header in the 86th sealed the victory for 10th-place Athletic, which hadn’t won in seven consecutive matches in all competitions. One of its setbacks was losing against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final.
Suárez and Félix returned after nursing injuries for the last few weeks. They came off the bench early in the second half but couldn’t spark Atlético to victory. Midfielder Thomas Lemar also returned from injury.
Griezmann leads Barca
Griezmann scored twice in the first half as Barcelona rallied to beat Villarreal and stay close to the top.
Villarreal, sitting seventh, played with 10 men from the 65th minute after Manu Trigueros was sent off with a straight red card for a dangerous sliding tackle on Lionel Messi. Trigueros had his foot up when he hit Messi’s left leg, sliding his cleats on the Argentine’s lower shin. Messi was in pain and needed medical attention but was able to return.
The hosts opened the scoring with Samu Chukwueze in the 26th, but Griezmann equalized in the 28th and netted the winner in the 35th.
Villarreal, which hosts Arsenal in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals on Thursday, has lost three of its last four league matches.
It was Barcelona’s second straight league win since losing to Madrid in the last clásico of the season.
Game ends twice
The game between Sevilla and Granada ended twice after the referee blew the whistle ahead of time at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium in Seville.
Four minutes of added time were expected but referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea ended the game after only three. Granada players protested and video review apparently was consulted, confirming that another minute had to be played.
The referee had to call the players back to the field to finish the match. Some had already left for the locker rooms and had to put back on their shoes and jerseys before the game could resume.
Other results
Enes Unal scored a goal in each half as Getafe won 2-0 at Huesca in a match between relegation-threatened teams.
The result ended Getafe’s seven-match winless streak. The Madrid club moved to 15th in the standings, five points from the relegation zone.
Huesca stayed second-to-last, three points from safety.
In a match between midtable teams, Celta Vigo beat Osasuna 2-1 with goals from Iago Aspas and Jeison Murillo.
Atlético loss gives Barcelona chance to go top in Spain
https://arab.news/ysyv2
Atlético loss gives Barcelona chance to go top in Spain
- Barcelona put pressure on Atlético by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Villarreal
- Atlético will visit Barcelona in two rounds’ time
Neymar extends contract with Santos until the end of 2025
- Neither side explained why he did not extend his contract until the middle of 2026, when many Brazilians still expect him to play in the World Cup
- Since he left Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal for Santos, Neymar has played 12 matches, scored three goals and provided three assists
SAO PAULO: Neymar has extended his contract with Brazilian club Santos until the end of December.
The 33-year-old forward returned to his boyhood club in late January but has been limited by injuries. His current deal was set to expire next week. Neymar and Santos confirmed the extension Tuesday.
“I extended my contract with Santos. I went, I came back and I stay where it all began and where it will never end,” Neymar said in a video on his social media channels.
Neither side explained why he did not extend his contract until the middle of 2026, when many Brazilians still expect him to play in the World Cup. Earlier in June, new Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti hinted he is counting on Neymar’s recovery to play in the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Since he left Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal for Santos, Neymar has played 12 matches, scored three goals and provided three assists. He had two extended periods of absence due to muscle injuries.
Neymar played 225 matches for Santos in his first spell. He scored 138 goals, many of them key to winning six titles at the Brazilian giant, which was relegated in 2023 and returned to the top division last year.
His latest appearance for the team was a frustrating one; he was sent off in the 76th minute of Santos’ 1-0 loss to Botafogo at home on June 1 after using his hand to score.
Realizing he was not going to reach the ball with his head before a defender could clear it away, Neymar used his right hand to push the ball into the net.
The Brazil forward already had a yellow card and was shown his second by the referee, who then disallowed the goal. Botafogo then scored the winner in the 86th.
Saudi club Al-Hilal terminated Neymar’s contract with mutual consent, six months early, after he played only seven matches. An ACL injury sidelined him for a year until October. Al-Hilal said Neymar could no longer perform like he used to.
Neymar also left Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain to criticism, despite delivering silverware and goals.
Santos are in the 15th position in the Brazilian league with 11 points after 12 matches.
Early goal holds up as Benfica beats Bayern Munich to advance to knockouts
- Anatoliy Trubin made four saves to keep Benfica’s second consecutive clean sheet
Andreas Schjelderup scored early and Benfica held on amid oppressive conditions for a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday afternoon in Charlotte.
Anatoliy Trubin made four saves to keep Benfica’s second consecutive clean sheet and preserve its first-ever competitive victory over Bayern as the Portuguese club finished atop Group C and extended their FIFA Club World Cup campaign.
Benfica (2-0-1, 7 points) will face either Chelsea or Esperance de Tunis, who play later Tuesday to decide the second spot in Group D, in a Saturday round- of-16 clash also in Charlotte.
A heavily rotated Bayern (2-1-0, 6 points) had already clinched their spot in the knockout phase and will face Group D winner Flamengo on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida
Benfica went in front 13 minutes into a sluggish first half that was played amid temperatures hovering around 97 degrees and beneath bright sunshine.
Ángel Di María played a ball wide down the right for Fredrik Aursnes, who then dragged a low cross back to the penalty area. That’s where Schjelderup met it in stride and fired a low first-time finish past Manuel Neuer.
Trubin was exceptional after halftime as Benfica weathered increasing Bayern pressure.
In the 51st minute, Leroy Sané ran onto Joshua Kimmich’s ball over the top but was denied by Trubin, who also made a more comfortable save of Thomas Müller’s follow-up effort seconds later.
Kimmich thought he’d scored from the edge of the penalty area in the 61st minute, but the goal was ruled offside because Harry Kane was standing in an offside position and in the goalkeeper’s view.
In the 74th minute, he denied Aleksandar Pavlovic with an outstretched leg from about 10 yards after Bayern’s initial cross from the right rattled off a few bodies inside the area.
Then in the 87th, he thwarted Sané on the break for a second time after Sané ran onto Harry Kane’s excellent through ball.
Lyon handed Ligue 2 relegation by financial regulator
- During a hearing earlier in the day, Lyon were unable to convince DNCG to lift the restrictions
- Lyon can appeal the decision
LYON: Seven-time Ligue 1 champions Lyon have been relegated to the second-tier by French football’s financial watchdog, the French professional league (LFP) announced on Tuesday.
During a hearing earlier in the day, Lyon were unable to convince the regulator (DNCG) to lift the restrictions it had put on the club in November.
Lyon can appeal the decision.
Before the meeting, Lyon’s president John Textor said he was confident of avoiding the drop to Ligue 2 for next season, where the club has not played since 1989.
“We have made a variety of investments in recent weeks,” he said. “Everything is good financially.”
American Textor sold his 43 percent stake in Premier League outfit Crystal Palace earlier in the week. Lyon have reduced their salary bill and sold Rayan Cherki to Manchester City and Maxence Caqueret to Como.
Lyon qualified for next season’s Europa League after finishing sixth in the French top-flight.
If their relegation is confirmed, they would be replaced in Ligue 1 by Reims.
Lyon won seven consecutive French titles between 2002 and 2008. Only five clubs have won Ligue 1 more often. Paris Saint-Germain hold the record with 13 titles.
Arab Golf Federation launches elite scholarship program with training camp in Riyadh
- 4-day camp marks first phase of broader initiative
RIYADH: A group of promising young Arab golfers has gathered in Riyadh this week for the launch of a new regional initiative aimed at preparing future champions for the international stage.
The Arab Golf Federation has begun its Elite Sports Scholarship Camp, a flagship program designed to identify and nurture top golfing talent from across the Arab world.
Held at Riyadh Golf Club, the four-day training camp marks the first phase of a broader scholarship initiative that will see selected players offered full-time development opportunities at the renowned IMG Academy in the US.
The camp, which includes 16 male and female golfers under the age of 18, has brought together rising stars from across the region, based on their performances in regional and international events.
The program is structured into two intensive phases. The first is focused on technical, physical and psychological assessments, and the second on simulated competitive rounds designed to test performance under pressure.
At the end of the camp, the top-performing players will be awarded full scholarships, beginning in August.
The package includes elite golf training, academic education, and access to sports science facilities, including strength and conditioning and mental performance coaching.
The initiative forms a key part of the federation’s long-term strategy to elevate Arab golf and create a pipeline of talent capable of competing at the highest levels by 2035.
Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan, president of the Arab Golf Federation, said: “While we continue to lay a strong and sustainable foundation locally, we are also committed to partnering with the best international institutions to provide world-class training and professional development for our promising young players.
“This initiative reflects our dedication to investing in youth talent based on global best practices, empowering them to compete on the international stage.
“In the coming years, as we achieve our ambitious goals, we will be able to rely entirely on our local capabilities and deliver a comprehensive Arab system for developing future champions.”
Noah Alireza, secretary-general of the federation, described the camp as a pivotal moment for the sport in the region.
“This camp represents a turning point in our journey to establish a clear competitive pathway for Arab golfers,” he said.
“By combining world-class training, international exposure, and meticulous evaluation, we are laying a strong foundation for young Arab talents to rise to the top levels of the sport.
“The Elite Sports Scholarship Camp is a genuine launchpad toward realizing the Arab Golf Federation’s vision of producing a new generation of Arab champions capable of competing globally.
“Through comprehensive assessment programs and strategic partnerships with leading institutions, the federation is laying the groundwork for a promising future for golf in the Arab world, built on planning, professionalism, and investment in youth potential.”
Saudi Sport Ministry signs deals for new hotels at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah
- The project will include 2 world-class hotels offering integrated services designed to meet the needs of international sporting delegations and other visitors
- Development will also feature a fan zone, fitness and sports clubs, swimming pools, restaurants, shops, areas for athletes, and conference and event spaces
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport on Tuesday signed agreements with local and international companies to develop, build, manage and operate two new hotels at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.
The ministry said the hotels will be world-class establishments built to the highest engineering standards, and offer integrated services designed to meet the needs of international sporting delegations and other visitors.
The ministry’s acting director general of investment, Badr Al-Juraissi, attended signing ceremonies for the agreements with Kushan Real Estate Development Company, represented by its CEO, Marwan Al-Qaidi; Zuhair Fayez Partnership, which will provide design and engineering consultancy services and was represented by its chairperson, Zuhair Fayez; and IHG Hotels and Resorts, which will provide hotel services and was represented by Haitham Mattar, its regional managing director.
The hotels, expected to provide a total of 585 rooms, will be built on a 16,000-square-meter site at the sports city, the ministry said, and will help support the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to attract major sporting events.
The development will also include a fan zone, fitness and sports clubs, swimming pools, international restaurants, retail stores, dedicated areas for athletes, and conference and event spaces.
The ministry said the initiative forms part of its ongoing efforts to achieve its strategic goals, including engagement with the private sector in the development of the nation’s sports industry. It will also support environmental improvements through infrastructure development, and in doing so directly contribute to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, officials said.
