Sports
Barcelona ‘struggles’ in first match of the year
Barcelona made a horrifying start to 2017 with a 2-1 defeat on Thursday to Athletico Bilbao in the Copa del Rey.
The home team secured a first-leg advantage over Barcelona in the last-16 tie despite finishing the match with nine men.
Two goals in three first-half minutes from Aritz Aduriz and Inaki Williams put the hosts in control against the 2016 champions.
Though Lionel Messi reduced the deficit from a free-kick in the 52nd minute, and two men (Raul Garcia and Ander Iturraspe) were sent off for Bilbao, the visitors were unable to earn a point in their first game of the year.
Read Also: Mahrez is African Footballer of the Year
Luis Enrique, who named a strong side for the first-leg trip to San Mames, with star striking trio Messi, Suarez and Neymar starting the game, told reporters in a post-match chat that his team did struggle at the start.
“We struggled at the start,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.
“In the second half we concentrated more on what we could control, our play, and I think we did enough to deserve more, even taking into account Athletic’s numerical disadvantage,” he added.
Barcelona, who are the current holders of the Copa del Rey, suffered their first loss since being beaten by Manchester City at the start of November; but will have the chance to rectify the situation when they meet for the
second leg on January 11 at the Nou Camp.
RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...