La Liga

NEWCASTLE fans will be wondering if this is the same Joselu that scored just seven goals in 52 games for the Magpies.The 32-year-old endured a disappointing two-year spell on Tyneside from 2017-2019.
STOP what you’re doing and watch this! 🤯Joselu nets the opener for Espanyol with a goal from the halfway line 🫡OUTSTANDING! 🌟👏 pic.twitter.com/WPRr6BrRyz— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 15, 2023

Former Newcastle striker Joselu scored from near the halfway line for EspanyolCredit: Twitter @viaplaysportsuk
Joselu lobbed the goalkeeper from inside the centre circleCredit: Twitter @viaplaysportsuk
Joselu has been on fire for Espanyol this seasonCredit: Rex
But the striker has been on fire for Spanish side Espanyol this season, scoring 10 goals in just 17 LaLiga games.
And his latest goal was something special.
Joselu gave Espanyol the lead against Getafe on Sunday with a wonder goal from near the HALFWAY line.
As the ball broke for him in midfield, former Newcastle and Stoke man Joselu spotted his chance.
Read More In Football
He latched onto it and saw goalkeeper David Soria off his line.
So with his first touch he cheekily smashed the ball over the head of the hapless Soria and into the back of the net from INSIDE the centre circle.
In doing so he became the first player to reach double figures for goals in each of the last four seasons in LaLiga.
And only Barcelona man Robert Lewandowski has scored more goals in LaLiga than Joselu this term.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Getafe equalised barely a minute later through Turkish international Enes Unal.
But that was no problem for the rampant Joselu, who later provided the assist for the winning goal.
Joselu scored 36 times in 113 games for Alaves after leaving Newcastle in 2019, before joining Espanyol last summer.
He also had a spell in England with Stoke before joining the Magpies, scoring just four goals in 27 games for the Potters.
The striker scored just seven goals in 52 games for NewcastleCredit: PA:Press Association More

GAVI handed Xavi his first trophy as Barcelona boss with a devastating El Clasico performance in the Spanish Super Cup.The 18-year-old midfielder showed shades of his manager with a silky strike and two tasty assists to leave defending champions Real Madrid startled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Barcelona won the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP
Teenage sensation Gavi was superb for BarcaCredit: AFP
It’s Xavi’s first trophy as Barcelona managerCredit: Reuters
It hands Xavi his maiden piece of silverware as manager after lifting 25 trophies during his 17-years as a player at Nou Camp.
Despite being held in the Middle East the fixture still had the same bite as Barca defender Ronald Araujo clattered into Vinicius Jr early on.
Xavi’s side wasted no time in taking the game to Madrid as defender Araujo arrived at the back post to test Los Blancos keeper Thibaut Courtois with a header.
Madrid’s midfield veterans Toni Kroos and Luka Modric were run ragged by Barca’s young midfield pivot of Gavi and Pedri.
Read More In Football
The Catalan giants could have been playing in the red and white stripes of Stoke City and you would have known it was them.
The young midfielders had Xavi’s side dancing in the Saudi desert as Courtois forced a low Robert Lewandowski strike onto the woodwork.
But the big Belgian had no hope of keeping out Gavi’s opener on 34 minutes.
The teenage prodigy latched onto the end of a quick counter move and coolly slotted home.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
And after continuing dominating possession Barca’s sand-storm left Madrid in a whirlwind as the second arrived on the stroke of half-time.
This time Gavi turned provider after he teed up Lewandowski with a slick cut back to allow the Pole to slot into an empty net.
Even when Carlo Ancelotti came out after the break the Italian remained cool, calm and collected.
But his eyebrow must have been raised when Ousmane Dembele raced onto Alejandro Balde’ through-ball to force Courtois into a snap save with his feet.
Gavi showed no signs of slowing down as he continued to glide around the field with the ball super glued to his boots.
The small Spaniard then got his midfield partner involved with the goals after a through ball set Pedri on his way to add a third.
The Saudi crowd began dishing out ‘Oles!’ before Karim Benzema silenced them with a late consolation.
But it was too little too late.
And with Barca having a three-point lead the the top of La Liga ahead – Xavi may just have the Catalan giants purring again.
Barcelona celebrate after their Super Cup triumphCredit: Reuters More

KARIM BENZEMA has insisted there is no rift between him and Cristiano Ronaldo.The Real Madrid striker and the rest of the squad are in Saudi Arabia this week for a warm-weather training camp ahead of tonight’s Spanish Super Cup clash with Barcelona.
Karim Benzema has denied any rift with Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo reunited with his old club in Saudi Arabia this weekCredit: Instagram / @realmadrid
The club’s all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who this month sealed a move to the Middle East country after joining Al-Nassr, took the opportunity to visit his old team-mates while they were in town.
The 37-year-old Portuguese forward was spotted on camera speaking and reminiscing with a number of Madrid men.
However, Benzema was not among them, which led to speculation that the two former strike partners did not see eye-to-eye.
But speaking to Marca, the French star was adamant that the pair are friends and insisted he did not need any photos with him to prove it.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Benzema said: “We don’t need to take photos to say we’re friends, the photos are for Instagram or Twitter, that’s another world.
“We didn’t have time to greet each other because I was training and immediately he also went to train.
“I hope to see him tomorrow at the stadium and be able to talk to him for a while.”
Ronaldo and Benzema both arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.
Most read in Football
HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
They won the Champions League four times as colleagues, with the 35-year-old Benzema adding a fifth to his collection last season.
Ronaldo also lifted the Ballon d’Or on four occasions during that period.
Now Benzema has been able to pick up the accolade after his explosive 2022. More