La Liga

BARCELONA midfielder Fermin Lopez was left red-faced after his goal celebration went wrong at the weekend.The 20-year-old was one of three goalscorers when Xavi’s side cruised to a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.Fermin Lopez attempted a knee slide after scoringCredit: EPAThe midfielder’s knees got stuck in the grassCredit: EPALopez then flew forward and was forced into a forward rollCredit: AFPAtleti loanee Joao Felix broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, putting Barcelona in control ahead of half-time.Robert Lewandowski doubled the advantage just after the break and Lopez sealed the win with less than 30 minutes left to play.However, fans were quick to comment on the midfielder’s celebration.After scoring in the 65th minute, Lopez attempted to knee slide next to the corner flag.Read More on FootballHowever, both knees got stuck in the grass and he was forced into a forward roll.Some fans believed he was lucky to avoid injury, with one person taking to social media to write: “Close to being another midfielder out for them, kid needs to stay healthy. He is one of their key players right now.”Another commented: “Ouch! That’s gonna hurt like anything.”A third wrote: “My ACLs would be gone after that.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSWhile a fourth likened it to a failed Arjen Robben celebration, adding: “I remember Robben doing something like that and ended up doing a somersault.”Barcelona currently sit second in the La Liga table, nine points above fifth-placed Atletico Madrid.Fans left stunned after Liverpool star Tsimikas ‘got a bit too excited’ celebrating Van Dijk’s Carabao Cup winnerXavi’s side are eight points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid with nine games left to play.Barcelona dedicated Sunday’s win to Joao Cancelo, who was forced to withdraw from the squad due to a reported “serious personal problem”. More

A FORGOTTEN Man United star who found himself caught up in one of football’s biggest scandals lay in unmarked grave for half a century.Patrick O’Connell came from Ireland and after stints at Sheffield Wednesday and Hull, joined United for a fee of £1,000 in 1914.Patrick O’Connell found himself caught up in one of football’s biggest scandalsHe lay forgotten in an unmarked grave for half a century until he was properly commemoratedCredit: MirorrpixHe was capped 24 times and captained the side in what would become the infamous 1914-15 season.Not only was it the last before a five year football hiatus as WW1 raged, but the season would usher in a scandal that brought the game to its knees.On April 2, 1915, Manchester United faced Liverpool in what appeared to be a normal league game at Old Trafford.But there was a catch – the Good Friday game had been fixed in United’s favour and all the players were in on it.Read More football storiesPlayers from both sides believed the war would leave them unemployed and penniless so placed bets on the game and were set to make a killing.But their plan fell apart when seven players were found to be in the illegal ring.They were: Sandy Turnbull, Arthur Whalley and Enoch West of United, and Jackie Sheldon, Tom Miller, Bob Pursell and Thomas Fairfoul of Liverpool.All were subsequently banned for life, but most had them overturned.Most read in FootballO’Connell was not found to have taken part but his wide penalty during the match saw him caught up in the scandal.The Irishman stayed with United throughout the war and played as a guest at Clapton Orient (now Leyton Orient), Rochdale and Chesterfield.O’Connell moved to Dunbarton FC before leaving Ashington FC in 1922 for a managerial career in Spain.He went on to manage Barcelona, whom he saved from ruin, and Sevilla.But it was at Real Betis where he took the team to their only ever La Liga title in 1935.His exploits at at the club earned him the nickname “Don Patricio”.After 35-years in Spain, which included a 27-year managerial stint which overlapped with the Spanish Civil War, O’Connell returned to the UK and died in 1959.He lay in an unmarked grave at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in North London until May 2016 when it was given the attention it needed.A headstone was put up, which reads: “Remembered by many in Ireland, England and Spain.”READ MORE SUN STORIESIn 2017, a bust was put up in his honour at Betis’s Estadio Benito Villamarín stadium.A mural commemorating the legend later appeared in West Belfast A mural commemorating the legend later appeared in West BelfastCredit: Alamy More