His amazing dribble against Espanyol was my moment of the week, festive season and possibly year, conveying a feeling of goodwill and childish wonderOne of the most remarkable things about Christmas is its basic reach, the layers of ritual and habit, the way this very special time of year manages to smear itself like a basting of goose fat across every one of the vital senses. Overwhelmed by these ruddy-cheeked riches, it can be a tricky choice. We all have our preferences. But in the end it’s really just a personal choice which part of Christmas you hate the most.The list is endless. Motorway gridlock. Men who use the word Chrimbo. Adorable bright-eyed, husky-voiced, bowl-headed American children in family movies...
Brazil prepare to revisit the scene of 2014’s infamous defeat with their team resurgent while their rivals’ embarrassment of attacking riches is providing no remedy for a desperate dependency on Leo MessiIt has been 28 months, but finally Brazil will return to the site of their greatest trauma. Their World Cup qualifier against Argentina on Thursday will be their first game in Belo Horizonte since the 7-1 defeat to Germany in the World Cup semi-final. Nothing will ever erase that horror but a victory over Argentina would make the ghosts loom less menacingly over the Mineirão in future – particularly if it adds to the growing fear in Argentina that the country may not qualify for the next World Cup.“There’s...
Jorge Sampaoli’s side are on the up and a breathless, brilliant display threatened to deflate Barcelona until the Catalan side’s Argentinian talisman sprang into lifeSamir Nasri has finished training, his heart monitor laid on the window ledge with the others. The scans say he shouldn’t play but he says he will and his manager appreciates it. He’s perhaps La Liga’s best midfielder so far; the man his coach says makes the team breathe. Steven N’Zonzi, perhaps the second-best, ambles by in flip-flops and baggy shorts. Lifesized inflatable footballers lean against the fence; actual footballers ride buggies, alighting at the gym. Sergio Escudero grins and staff embrace him. News just in: he’s in the Spain squad. The groundsman, in cricketer’s shirt...
Argentinian scores to give Barcelona the lead but apart from that Pep Guardiola’s side keep him under control and give their forwards the chance to shinePep Guardiola said it himself. Barcelona did not have to win this match. Manchester City did, or at least try to take something from it. But Barcelona had Lionel Messi, the one player in the world who seems capable of winning any Champions League match.No one needs to explain anything about Messi to anyone at City after all the previous meetings and the events at the Camp Nou, and though his appearance has changed considerably since the first glimpse in this country 10 years ago prompted Richard Williams of this parish to describe him as...