La Liga

BARCELONA stumbled to an embarrassing defeat in a baffling mid-season friendly against Mexican side Club America.The Spanish giants were paid a whopping £4.3million to go and play in Dallas, Texas with the fixture coming just 30 hours after a LaLiga game.
Barcelona faced an embarrassing defeat against the Mexican side Club AmericaCredit: Getty
Club America beat Barca 3-2 at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in DallasCredit: AP
After making a quick hop across the Atlantic, Barcelona lost 3-2 against the Liga MX champions at the Cotton Bowl.
Just a day before the Catalan giants were busy beating Almeria 3-2.
Manager Xavi let slip the reason why his short-of-cash side agreed to play the friendly fixture, revealing the club were being paid £4.3million to take part.
Due to their hectic schedule, Xavi heavily rotated his team against Club America – with six teenagers in the starting XI.
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Barcelona’s 16-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal struck the back of the net to open the scoring.
But Club America did not take long to find their feet as Mexican international Julian Quinones backheeled the ball into the net six minutes later.
Hector Fort’s cross was then successfully shot between the sticks by fellow academy star 17-year-old Marc Guiu for Barca to regain the lead.
But after half-time, things took a turn for the worse as Quinones had one more strike to equalise the game.
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And Barca’s misery was complete when an 82nd-minute goal from Henry Martin stripped Xavi’s side of a victory.
The Spanish side will not now return to LaLiga action until January 4 against Las Palmas.
Currently in third spot, seven points behind Girona and frontrunners Real Madrid, Barcelona have some catching up to do in the new year if they want to be in the running for the league title.
Teenager Lamine Yamal opened the scoring for the Spanish giantsCredit: Getty More

DEPORTIVO ALAVES boss Luis Garcia threw a huge strop after his side conceded a last-minute winner against Real Madrid.Carlo Ancelotti’s side climbed back to the top of LaLiga thanks to Lucas Vazquez’s late goal.
Lucas Vazquez headed Real Madrid in front in stoppage timeCredit: EPA
Luis Garcia threw his jacket to the floorCredit: DAZN
The 51-year-old then gave a colleague a shakeCredit: DAZN
He continued to fume after sitting back downCredit: DAZN
Real Madrid had gone down to ten men in the 52nd minute, when captain Nacho was sent off following a VAR check.
Despite being a man down the Spanish giants continued to threaten their hosts.
And in stoppage time Vazquez headed in Toni Kroos’ corner to hand Real Madrid all three points.
The last-gasp winner sparked pandemonium among Madrid’s players and fans.
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But it provoked fury in Alaves boss Garcia.
The 51-year-old responded by booting a box of water bottles.
He then screamed at his support staff, even giving one of them a shake.
Garcia then furiously ripped off his jacket before launching it at the ground.
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His beanie hat was the next to go, meeting the same fate as the jacket.
The Alaves boss then sat in his chair, continuing to scream and stomping his feet in rage.
He then ran his hand through his hair as he tried to cool down.
The clip of Garcia’s meltdown quickly began to circulate on social media.
And fans poked fun at the Spaniard’s reaction.
One joked: “Me when I’ve opened the 3rd Lynx Africa set Christmas Day.”

While a second quipped: “When mum says its not pizza for tea.”
A third sarcastically wrote: “The important thing is that he remained calm.”
And a fourth wrote: “When you concede them 90 min winners on FM.”
Another added: “Wouldn’t fancy being in the dressing room after the game with him.”
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The result saw Real Madrid leapfrog leaders Girona on goal difference, following the Catalan side’s 1-1 draw at Real Betis.
Alaves are 16th, meanwhile, three points above the relegation zone.
Vazquez celebrates his last-gasp winnerCredit: Getty More

REAL MADRID star Antonio Rudiger was labelled “unhinged” by fans for his unusual antics against Alaves.Lucas Vazquez grabbed a last-minute winner for Los Blancos to send them top of LaLiga.

Antonio Rudiger got tight to his opponent Samu OmorodionCredit: X
The defender then bizarrely bent down in a strange attempt to unsettle the strikerCredit: X
Rudiger helped his side keep a clean sheet against struggling Alaves but he left fans baffled with his marking style.
At one point in the match he was marking striker Samu Omorodion near the halfway and he came up with a bizarre method to unsettle his opponent.
The former Chelsea defender bent down behind Omorodion’s legs, almost as if he was trying to trip up the forward prank style.
Rudiger then barged into the Spaniard to stop him progressing further up the field, and fans watching on were left baffled by his method of defending.
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One reacted saying: “Bro is so unhinged.”
Another added: “Rudiger is crazy man 😭”
A third wrote: “Nahh Rudiger is so funny man😭what is bro doing?”
And another commented: “Confirmed madman 😂”
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It is not the first time Rudiger has raised eyebrows over his strange marking style, as he tried a similar technique when he came up against Erling Haaland in the Champions League last season.
The defender also showed his enigmatic side during a post-game interview while still at Chelsea, in which he made silly faces at the camera as he answered questions. More

XAVI has told his Barcelona flops to “run like animals” to have a chance of emulating the club’s former glories.The Barca manager was left fuming after his side’s 3-2 victory over Almeria on Wednesday.
Xavi told his Barcelona flops to ‘run like animals’ after their win over AlmeriaCredit: Reuters
Barcelona were twice pegged back by La Liga’s bottom club, who are yet to win a league match this season.
Only Sergi Roberto’s 83rd minute winner was enough to rescue all three points for the Spanish champions.
Speaking after the match, an enraged Xavi exclaimed: “I can’t accept our first half, it’s my fault and it won’t happen again.
“We were not aggressive. It’s unacceptable.
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“We are NOT Barça 2010 here. Run like animals or no chance. Fight on every ball or we won’t win any title.
“We need to fight. I wanna see passion.”
Xavi’s dissatisfaction with the first half display saw him drag off both Andreas Christensen and Joao Felix at the break.
His changes would ultimately pay off late on as Roberto scored his second of the match with seven minutes remaining.
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The victory ended a three match winless run for the Blaugrana, who remain third in La Liga.
However, the six point gap to surprise leaders Girona could be extended once more when they play on Thursday night.
Xavi returned to Barca in 2021 after winning 25 trophies and making 767 appearances for the club as a player.
He added to that haul by winning the title by 10 points from Real Madrid last term.
His side are not in league action again now until January 4, when they visit Las Palmas.
Sergi Roberto scored an 83rd minute winner against Almeria on Wednesday nightCredit: Alamy More

MALLORCA’S ground is undergoing a stunning makeover shortly after its renovation began.The LaLiga giants’ Son Moix Stadium has been undergoing a redevelopment since May of last year.
Mallorca’s Son Moix Stadium is undergoing a stunning makeoverCredit: Getty
The running track has been removed at Mallorca’s redeveloped groundCredit: Getty
The stands have also come closer to the goal postsCredit: Getty
Last season, the Spanish venue looked dated as it still had a running track around it, which didn’t really impress the fans.
However, the club have put together an £18million project that includes the stadium’s transformation.
The running track is already gone, with stands behind the goals now much closer to the pitch.
A canopy has also been built over the upper part of the eastern stand, while arches were removed and replaced by additional usable space.
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However, the redevelopment is not expected to be completed until mid-2024.
And when the new and improved Son Moix Stadium opens its doors it will host a capacity of around 23,000.
Mallorca announced at the start of the project: “Our home will be remodelled with the aim of adapting the current stadium to the needs of both the city of Palma de Mallorca and fans in collaboration with the city council.
“Plans to transform the Visit Mallorca Estadi into a modern, inclusive stadium will include further transport, culture, welfare, sporting, social and leisure services to its local community.”
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However, Mallorca are facing the prospect of playing in their redeveloped ground in the Segunda Division next season.
That is because Javier Aguirre’s side are 15th in the LaLiga table, with only two points separating them from the relegation zone.
Therefore, the Spanish outfit will have to improve if they hope to have the likes of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona visiting next term. More