WEF Special Meeting ends in Riyadh with calls for global peace and prosperity    Tensions grow as China ramps up global mining for green tech    Indian MP's 'sex abuse' tapes spark outrage    Passengers stranded as Australian airline enters administration    US says Israeli army units violated human rights    Columbia students defy deadline to disband pro-Palestinian encampment    Saudi Electricity Company gains regulatory approval for increased weighted average cost of capital    Prince Abdulaziz highlights Saudi Arabia's role in circular carbon economy and energy transition    Saudi minister underscores global cooperation in health at WEF Special Meeting    Saudi Foreign Minister discusses Gaza ceasefire with US Secretary of State    Crown Prince discusses Gaza situation with a number of world leaders    Prince Salman bin Sultan inaugurates Madinah Cultures and Peoples festival    SFDA: Breast-milk substitute products are sugar-free complying with Saudi specifications    Al Shabab overpowers Al Ittihad with a 3-1 victory in Jeddah    Saudi Olympic team exits U-23 Cup in quarterfinals, loses Paris 2024 Olympics dream    Al Hilal triumphs over Al Fateh in a fierce 3-1 clash at Kingdom Arena    'Zarqa Al Yamama': Riyadh premieres first Saudi opera    Riyadh Season announces first overseas event with boxing gala in Los Angeles    Australian police launch manhunt for Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger    Spice Girls reunite at Posh's 50th birthday    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Barca hit seven, Isco grabs late winner for Real
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 19 - 08 - 2013


* Barcelona rout Levante 7-0
* Real come from behind to beat Betis 2-1

MADRID - Gerardo Martino enjoyed his competitive debut with Barcelona more than Carlos Ancelotti's with Real Madrid as the La Liga champions stormed to a 7-0 demolition of Levante in their season opener at the Nou Camp on Sunday.
Real had to come from behind against Real Betis for a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu, new 30 million euro signing Isco heading an 86th-minute winner. Jorge Molina had put the lively visitors ahead in the 14th minute only for Karim Benzema level in the 26th.
At the Nou Camp, World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Spain striker Pedro both scored twice, while new 57 million euro signing Neymar started on the bench and came on as a 63rd-minute substitute with the game already resolved.
Barca made a whirlwind start, scoring six times before halftime as the team responded to Argentine Martino's calls for greater intensity in their pressing game and a more direct approach.
"The debut exceeded all my expectations," Martino told a news conference as he insisted he had not made any changes to the way the team played.
"I am not looking for a Barca modeled by Martino. I was already a fan of Barca's concepts of play before I came, and all I want them to do is to do some things they have forgotten or stopped doing.
"We put them under pressure well and kept it going for a long time." The outstanding Cesc Fabregas squared for Alexis Sanchez to tap in the opener in the third minute, and Messi exchanged passes with Pedro to stroke in the second.
Dani Alves struck the third after another slick passing move on the edge of the area, and Pedro, who started wide on the left of the attack keeping Neymar on the bench, bagged the fourth.
Adriano was felled for a penalty in the 42nd which Messi fired home, and Fabregas set up Xavi with an extravagant looping pass over the defence for the sixth, just before the break.
A limp display from the cash-strapped visitors, under new coach Joaquin Caparros, could only look to a string of saves from goalkeeper Keylor Navas as any sort of positive.
Rousing Reception
Brazil forward Neymar was given a rousing reception when he came on for his competitive debut and showed a few nice touches but it was Pedro who notched the seventh after a mix up in the Levante defence in the 73rd.
While Real pursue Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale for a reported world record 100 million euros ($133.33 million), it was a player who cost Betis one euro and 20 cents, Cedrick Mabwati, who set up the opener at the Bernabeu.
The Congolese winger surged forward and crossed low for Molina to divert the ball past Diego Lopez, preferred in the Real goal ahead of Iker Casillas.
Betis were audacious in their approach and Joan Verdu should have doubled the lead when he fired wide as the hosts looked disjointed.
Real had already had two goals ruled out for offside when new signing Isco fed Benzema, and the France striker scored at the near post.
Betis's Nosa slammed a header against the crossbar from a corner and Cedrick had a good shot for a penalty waved away, but Real responded in the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo rattling the crossbar straight after the re-start.
The Portugal forward, Angel Di Maria, Benzema and Marcelo all had further chances as the pressure grew, and with time running out Marcelo crossed and Isco headed just under the crossbar. — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.