La Liga

THE LaLiga game between Valencia and Cadiz on Sunday was temporarily suspended after racism allegations prompted a walk-off.Mouctar Diakhaby of Valencia was left incensed at the allegedly racist nature of comments made by Juan Cala during the first-half at Estadio Ramon de Carranza.
Valencia star Mouctar Diakhaby was left incensed after claiming to have been racially abusedCredit: EPA
The defender and his team-mates walked off the pitch as Cadiz’s game with Valencia was temporarily suspendedCredit: EPA
Both players were handed yellow cards by the referee as team-mate Gabriel Paulista attempted to calm the angry French defender down.
But the seriousness of the allegations was evident as Diakhaby, 24, walked off the pitch in disgust.
Los Che players followed their colleague off before Cadiz players also returned to the dressing rooms and the game was temporarily suspended.
Valencia delegate David Rangel was seen talking to central defender Cala, 31, as the game was halted for several minutes.
The Cadiz team began to return to the pitch as the visitors agreed to resume the match, which they claim came after the threat of a punishment.
Diakhaby did not play on however, and was substituted for centre-back Hugo Guillamon.
𝗡𝗢 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗠 ✊🏽✊🏿The team have held a meeting and decided to continue the game, in order to fight for the honour of the club, but denounce racism of any kind.#CádizValencia— Valencia CF 🦇🍊🌊 (@valenciacf_en) April 4, 2021

Before the second kick-off, with the clock at 29 minutes and the scores tied at 1-1, the team released a statement condemning racism.
Valencia tweeted: “No to racism.
“The team have held a meeting and decided to continue the game, in order to fight for the honour of the club, but denounce racism of any kind.”
Club captain Jose Gaya said after the game, which ended 2-1 to Cadiz, that the team were told to return to the pitch or face forfeiting the result.
He said: “Diakhaby told us that he was insulted and at Valencia we condemn that.
“We left the pitch because of that but they told us that we had to go back out, that if we did not they would take three points and maybe more off us.
Valencia claim they were told to continue or risk a LaLiga sanctionCredit: EPA
“Diakhaby told us to go back out and that is why we went out. He wanted us to go out, without his permission we would not have done it.
“He wasn’t ready to play on. He was sunk. It’s a very ugly insult, I’m not going to repeat it.”
Cadiz boss Alvaro Cervera insisted he ‘believed his player’ after Cala was accused.
But Valencia coach Javi Gracia criticised the handling of the situation from the LaLiga authorities.

He stated: “They told us that we could be sanctioned [if refusing to play] and at that moment we spoke with Diakhaby.
“He said that he did not feel ready to play but that he understood that we had to go out to play to avoid the possible punishment.
“I want to take this opportunity to say that the referee had no record of what happened, neither he nor his assistants heard what had really happened and, in this situation, they were forced to continue the game.
“We are very sorry for the situation and we all condemn these incidents.”
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ONE Athletic Bilbao fan channelled his inner Jeff Hardy as he jumped off the top of traffic lights prior to his side’s appearance in the Copa del Rey final.The supporter of the Basque club was being egged on to jump off like he was standing on the top rope in a WWE ring before Bilbao faced Real Sociedad.
This Athletic Bilbao fan leaped off the traffic lights like he was a WWE wrestlerCredit: Twitter
The supporter jumped off into the crowd surrounding him after being egged onCredit: Twitter
In a video obtained by El Chiringuito TV, the fan leaped off into the crowd surrounding him in the hope they would catch him.
But the group moved out of his way as he came crashing towards him and the man smashed into the road.
He quickly rose to his feet where he was mobbed by the jubilant supporters, as the gathering celebrated his stupid leap of faith.
Commenting on the incident, one Twitter user commented: “Is everyone in Spain like this?”
Another remarked: “He is pretending to not look like a fool but it hurt.”
A third added: “I understand that with everything we have from the pandemic, we are all very fatigued and we want a bit of partying and revelry, but this is intolerable.”
Meanwhile one stated: “This is the same species that is capable of sending and landing ships on Mars, and of generating a vaccine in less than a year.”
Unfortunately for the man in question, his beloved Bilbao side lost in the delayed 2020 final as Sociedad – whose manager celebrated in style – edged out a 1-0 victory.
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The Bilbao fan was in a joyous mood ahead of the delayed 2020 Copa del Rey finalCredit: Twitter

The fan smashed into the road after the group of supporters moved out of the wayCredit: Twitter
A second half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal proved to be the difference in a tight affair in Seville where there was only three shots on target.
Bilbao – who have lost their last five Spanish Cup finals – will have the chance to win their first Copa del Rey since 1984 in two weeks.
Marcelino’s side have reached the 2021 final, where they will face LaLiga giants Barcelona on April 17.
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LIONEL MESSI’S top team-mates have been revealed with an ultimate Barcelona star-studded line-up.The six-time Ballon d’Or winner has spent his entire career with the Nou Camp club, progressing through the famous La Masia academy.
Lionel Messi has played alongside his fair share of talent during his time at Barcelona
He made his official first-team debut in October 2004 and has developed into one of the – if not the –  greatest footballers of all time.
Across his 17 years, he has played alongside scores of top-class players on his way to winning ten LaLiga titles and four Champions Leagues.
In the meantime, the Mirror have found out the players who have lined up alongside the 33-year-old the most, not an overall list of the most talented players.
While great rival Cristiano Ronaldo’s list features eight Real Madrid stars and three from Manchester United, there is one common denominator with Messi’s XI – and it could have featured the Portugal legend if Sir Alex Ferguson got his way.
Although others may have played more matches, such as Carles Puyol on 269 and Ivan Rakitic on 166, the line-up has been done in an actual formation.
Here’s Lionel Messi’s elite XI…
GK: Victor Valdes
Valdes played 353 times alongside the great man, doing the business at the back while Messi did the damage going forward.
The stopper emerged as Barca’s first-choice keeper in the 2003/04 season so was No1 when Messi broke through until leaving in 2014 and joining Manchester United.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been the No1 between the sticks since and played 200 times with Leo.
RB: Dani Alves
The pair formed a rather formidable partnership down the Barcelona right between 2008 and 2016.
They teamed up a total of 349 times and won 23 trophies as part of arguably the best football team of all time.
CB: Gerard Pique
Pique is just four months older than Messi and the pair came through at La Masia together.
After a brief stint at Manchester United where he played with Ronaldo, Pique returned to the Nou Camp and they have played over 500 matches together and remain team-mates.
CB: Javier Mascherano
Javier Mascherano is a very fortunate man indeed, lining up with Messi 413 times.
Not only did he spend eight years at Barcelona after signing from Liverpool in 2010 but he also enjoyed 13 years alongside Messi for the Argentina national team – they have a combined 285 caps.
Javier Mascherano had the privilege of playing with Messi for both club and countryCredit: Reuters
LB: Jordi Alba
Alba rejoined Barcelona from Valencia to replace Eric Abidal as left-back in 2012/13, resulting in the Frenchman leaving in 2013.
A former Barca youngster, he has played with Messi 289 times and, at 31, is still the No1 choice in the left-back position.
CDM: Sergio Busquets
Busquets comes out top of the pile, lining up with Messi more than anybody else.
The holding midfielder made his LaLiga debut in September 2008 and has been a mainstay ever since.
CM: Xavi
The legendary midfielder misses out on the 400 club by falling one short on 399 games with Leo.
But he did win 24 of his 25 honours with his boyhood club alongside Messi. Not bad.
Sergio Busquets has racked up a staggering 512 appearances alongside Messi – no player has moreCredit: Reuters
CM: Andres Iniesta
The passing excellence and creative genius of Xavi and Iniesta no doubt played a huge role in making the Messi the record-breaking star he has become.
For Iniesta, he took to the field 489 times with the Argentine legend before heading to Vissel Kobe in Japan.
RW: Pedro
Despite being just a month younger than Messi, Pedro had to wait until January 2008 to make his first-team debut.
He then made 270 appearances in attack with the current Barca captain – no forward has managed more – and scored 99 goals before signing for Chelsea.
ST: Luis Suarez
It could have been very different if Arsenal got their way but Suarez moved to Barcelona in 2014 and has not looked back since.
They are close friends off the field and played almost 300 matches together, with Suarez racking up a total of 198 goals for the club and 13 pieces of silverware.

LW: Neymar
Completing the lethal MSN attacking trio, Neymar added the exuberance and flair in that famous front three.
Neymar spent four years at the Nou Camp and played 161 times alongside Messi before his world-record transfer to PSG in 2017 – but could he add to that number with a stunning return to Barca?
Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar formed one of the most deadly strike forces in football during their time together at the Nou CampCredit: Reuters

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FORMER Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek took an astonishing swipe at Lionel Messi in his autobiography, labelling him as “provocative” and “rude”.The Pole saw Messi up close over the course of many Clasicos, having acted as deputy to Iker Casillas at Real Madrid for four years after leaving Anfield in 2007.
Dudek has taken a swipe at Messi
And in his tell-all book Dudek, now 48, did not hold back when talking about Messi – who is set to leave Barcelona this summer. 
He wrote of the six-time Ballon d’Or winner: “He was deceptive and provocative, the same as Barcelona and Pep Guardiola.
“They were so ready to provoke you and they were able to do it to perfection.
“That hurt Jose Mourinho and the whole team a lot.
“I saw Messi say such rude things to Pepe and [Sergio] Ramos that you would not imagine from such a quiet and seemingly good person.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is arrogant, but he’s a normal guy behind the scenesJerzy Dudek
As well as Messi and Guardiola, Dudek also had his say on legendary ex-team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul.
Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League hero continued: “Cristiano Ronaldo is arrogant, but he’s a normal guy behind the scenes.
“It’s about how people perceive him, more or less.
“Like Raul, he’s egocentric, incredibly competitive and a winner.
Messi has regularly been the scourge of Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“Both would prefer their team to win 2-1 with their goals than 5-0 with other players scoring.”
Clasicos regularly boiled over in the Guardiola vs Mourinho period, and clearly there is still no love lost between those involved.
During one particularly bad-tempered affair in 2011 a poor challenge from Marcelo sparked a row – with Mourinho bizarrely poking Tito Vilanova in the EYE from behind.
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