Copa del Rey has Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Granada, and second-division club Mirandes as its four semi-finalists, after both Real Madrid and Barcelona failed to make it to the last four in a decade.The new edition of the Copa del Rey claimed the largest number of casualties on Thursday, and Real Madrid and Barcelona were eliminated in the last eight.Real Madrid lost 4-3 to Real Sociedad at home, before Barcelona scored a late goal to lose 1-0 against Athletic Bilbao on the most surprising night in a competition filled with surprises.Valencia also lost the defending champions on Tuesday and Villarreal were excluded on Wednesday. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid had already been sent off in previous rounds.The semifinals will only be played in two stages this season, giving smaller clubs more chances to beat larger teams.The last four surprises will also include Granada and the second division club Mirandes. This is the first time in ten years that neither Madrid nor Barcelona have reached the last four cup games, as at least one of the Spanish powers reached the final each year since the 2009-10 season when Seville won the title. Barcelona reached the final in the past six years in a row."This is the new Copa," said Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. "We are playing a game, away from home, and in one play you are eliminated."Real Sociedad finished a series of unbeaten matches in Madrid 21 by beating Santiago Bernabeu to reach the semi-finals for the first time in six years.Athletic beat Barcelona thanks to the winner of Inaki Williams three minutes after the end of the second half, adding to the difficulties faced by the club since coach Ernesto Valverde expelled him and replaced him with Kick Sitan.Barcelona has not yet been affected by the new coach, and the players and managers of the club have disagreed recently."I think we have taken a step forward. We are playing better than our opponent," Setien said. "Everything went well, except for the result."Barcelona dominated during the second half and was on the verge of breaking the deadlock with clear potentials for Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi. But it was Athletic who found the late winner when Williams threw a header in the far corner after the Ibai Gomez crossing.Athletic, the second most successful club in the cup with 23 championships, behind Barcelona, needed a penalty shootout to advance against second division clubs in the previous two rounds.Messi appeared in its seventy-fifth session in the Cup, in keeping with Joseph Samiter's record in Barcelona since 1932.Real Sociedad's victory stopped a series of eight wins in Madrid and gave the club its first defeat in all competitions since October.He also ended Madrid's hopes of winning the cup competition for the first time since 2014.Real Sociedad, semi-finals in 2014, will seek to win the third Copa del Rey Cup, the first since 1987."Our fans deserve a prize like this," said Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil. "This victory means a lot, it comes in full Bernabeu, against a team like Real Madrid, with our team playing well." You can imagine how we feel now. "Visitors dominated most of the match, but Madrid was about to return after scoring goals in the second half."We did everything we had in the end, but it was too late," said Madrid defender Marcelo. "It is difficult to come back after receiving four goals at home. It is disappointing, but we still have other competitions."Madrid was partly dominant thanks to their strong defense, having only received 13 goals in 22 Spanish league matches.The young Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard, who played for Real Sociedad on loan from Madrid, did not celebrate after he opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of the match after being saved by Madrid goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.Young Swedish striker Alexander Issac joined the lead two minutes into the second half, a shot in the 54th and a shot in the top corner in the 56thIsaac, 20 years old, has scored in five consecutive games, already scored an offside goal after reviewing the video just a few minutes after the break.Marcelo approached Madrid with a low shot from inside the area in 59th, but Mikel Merino again increased the advantage for visitors at close range in 69th.Rodrygo scored second in Madrid in 81st, two minutes after Vinicius Jr.'s goal was canceled by the video review. The third came through ahead from Nacho Ramos three minutes after the time of detention.Real Sociedad defender, Andoni Gorosabel, was sent off before the final whistle.
MADRID: The Spanish health ministry said on Tuesday that the Spanish Health Ministry is considering whether to allow fans to return to soccer fields when the season resumes later in June after a three-month pause due to the new Coronavirus pandemic. Health Emergency Coordinator, Fernando Simon said on Tuesday.Simon explained that the areas that have gone through the third phase of the de-escalation process could be allowed to hold matches with spectators, but added that it could be prevented from doing so for sporting fairness.The top flight will start again on June 11, with the Segunda Division resuming a day later, and the LEGA organizer said that all matches should be played without follow-up to avoid a second wave of coronavirus outbreaks.Read More: Premier League to restart on June 17But second-tie Las Palmas began a discussion about the return of the fans after their boss, Miguel Angel Ramirez, said he hoped fans could attend his first match against Girona.Simon said the issue was discussed on Tuesday in an online meeting between Health Minister Salvador Illa and Sports Minister Irene Lozano and four La Liga players, including Gerard Pique from Barcelona and Coke from Atletico Madrid.He added that the players and the sports department do not want supporters at the matches until each club is allowed to take them back."The Sports Department agreed with this matter with the players," said Simon. "This decision was not made by the Ministry of Health because it is not something we take into account when assessing the risks.""We did not give a firm answer as it is clear that we are not yet in a position to do so, but it is true that the Minister of Health has promised to assess the risks. If the region is in the third stage (the fans who attend the matches) they will." It is evaluated. "Spain, one of the countries most affected by the virus in Europe, imposed a strict lockdown in March but eased restrictions according to the progress made in each region.Most of the provinces are expected to move to the third stage starting June 8, with the exception of the Madrid region, Barcelona province, and some of Castille Leon provinces.La Liga president Javier Tebas said the organization plans to return the fans to the stadiums in the next season, which will start on September 12, as long as they receive the green light from the health authorities.Read More: Italian Football Federation considers allowing fans into stadiums in JulyArticle Source: newsbrig.com
Jorginho missed a penalty when Italy draw 0-0 with Switzerland in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday September 5, a result that meant Roberto Mancini's side equaled the world record for consecutive undefeated international matches in a row. Italy is now undefeated in 36 consecutive games, equaling Brazil's record set between 1993 and 1996. The result could have been more positive if Jorginho had converted from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after a foul by Domenico Berardi, but the Chelsea midfielder was thwarted by goalkeeper Yan Sommer. Italy had other opportunities to snatch the victory from them, but had to settle for a draw, which means they remain top of qualification Group C on 11 points from five games, four ahead of the second-placed Swiss, who have two matches in hand on the Azzurri.Also Read- Cristiano Ronaldo becomes all-time highest goalscorer in international football with brace against Ireland Mancini's team entered the game after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Bulgaria on Thursday, in their first match becoming European champions two months ago. But the visiting team did much better in the first half in Basel and should have taken the lead through good chances for Berardi and Lorenzo Insigne, both of whom were denied by Sommer. The best chance of the night came seven minutes of the second half after Ricardo Rodriguez trying to atone for being caught in possession, lunged in on Berardi to award a penalty. Jorginho, who missed his spot kick in in Italy's penalty shootout victory over England in the Euro 2020 final, stepped up but put his effort far to close to Sommer, who made an easy save. European champions Italy set a new world record of 36 international matches unbeaten with their draw in Switzerland Congratulations @Azzurri_En pic.twitter.com/VxL9CERn8D— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 6, 2021Sommer proved impossible to breach as he denied Insigne again to leave Italy heading home having been frustrated for the second successive qualifier.Also Read- Tokyo Paralympics: Avani Lekhara becomes first Indian woman to win 2 medals at single Games edition
