Gerard Pique made his 500th Barcelona appearance when the LaLiga champions played Real Betis on Sunday and he sits proudly among the greatest defenders in the club s history.
The most decorated Barcelona defender of all time, Pique trails only Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta when it comes to honours won, and he can reflect on the memory of lifting no fewer than 29 trophies.
But there has been more to Pique s 11 years at Camp Nou than just silverware, and the 32-year-old has become renowned for his outspoken personality and uncompromising style.
To mark his milestone match, we take a look back at some of the moments that shaped a Barcelona great.
— Gerard Pique (@3gerardpique)
Unbeaten beginnings
Pique added steel to Barcelona…
Suffering a late collapse away at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, Manchester United had to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against relegation scrappers Burnley.
While Erik ten Hag’s side might have been smelling the chance to claim a crucial Premier League victory here, the Reds struggled to find any kind of stability on either side of the half-time interval.
Although Brazil international Anthony might have opened the scoring late on following a well-taken effort in the 79th-minute, United suffered another public collapse in the red half of Manchester.
With Andre Onana costing his side three points after recklessly charging off his line in the final moment, second-half substitute Zeki Amdouni calm converted from the spot and salvaged a point for a spirited Burn…
Der Klassiker referee Felix Zwayer explained the controversial moments in Bayern Munich s 3-2 win over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund succumbed to defeat at home to defending champions and leaders Bayern, with the second half seeing controversial decisions go in favour of Die Roten.
Firstly, Marco Reus protests were ignored when the Dortmund man was tripped in the Bayern box by Lucas Hernandez, before the visitors got their winner in similarly contentious fashion.
Mats Hummels threw himself between two players in an attempt to reach a corner delivery, but he appeared to start stumbling and ultimately fell into the ball with his arm first.
While replays showed Hummels was not looking at the ball, seemingly rendering it accidental, Zwayer poi…
Pep Guardiola says the task of trying to stop Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar is enough to keep him awake at night.
Manchester City are away to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday, neither side having won the famous trophy before.
Guardiola had left Barcelona by the time Neymar arrived at Camp Nou in 2013, the forward eventually forming a historic front three with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Such is the quality of Neymar, the City boss feels his former club would have won many more Champions League crowns had the Brazil talisman not moved to PSG in 2017.
Guardiola feels there is only so much that can be done against world-class opponents like Neymar and Kylian Mbappe and wants City to impose themselves on the game …
Richarlison described his Champions League debut as one of the best days of my life after scoring his first two Tottenham goals in Wednesday s 2-0 win over Marseille.
The Brazil international opened the scoring for Spurs in the 76th minute of the Group D contest with a header after Chancel Mbemba had been issued a red card.
Richarlison, a £60million signing from Everton, glanced in a second five minutes later as Tottenham won their opening match in the competition for only the second time.
He became the 39th Brazilian to score on his debut in the competition, the most of any nation, and is the first Brazilian since Oscar in September 2012 to net a brace on his bow.
The 25-year-old was in tears at the end of the game as he embraced his father in the stand…
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, according to . The report has claimed that that PSG wanted to sign Silva in the summer transfer window and remain keen on securing the services of the Portugal international, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger.
The report has claimed that PSG are not the only club who are keen on signing the Portugal international. Former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona are also claimed to be interested in the former FC Porto star.
Silva has been on the books of City since 2017 and has been superb for Pep Guardiola’s side over the years. The 28-year-old has won the Premier League title four times, the FA Cup once, and the EFL Cup on four occasions with City so …
Jocelyn Gourvennec was quick to share the credit for Lille s historic Trophee des Champions success with predecessor Christophe Galtier.
Former head coach Galtier steered Lille to a first Ligue 1 title in a decade before departing for Nice, with new boss Gourvennec masterminding a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s curtain-raiser for the new domestic season.
Xeka s first-half strike from long range was the difference between the teams, ending PSG s eight-year spell of dominance in the competition, while it also secured Lille s first ever triumph at the third attempt.
When you play a trophy, what matters is the title, Gourvennec told the media after the game. We suffered in the second half because there was a high technical quality in front of us.
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Mohamed Salah has hinted he will still be a Liverpool player next season while paying tribute to departed manager Jurgen Klopp.
Klopp s nine-year reign on Merseyside came to an end with Sunday s 2-0 win over Wolves, with Liverpool ending his final campaign at the helm third in the Premier League.
Arne Slot was subsequently confirmed as his successor on Monday, but doubts have been raised as to whether Salah would play under the Dutchman.
Salah s form dropped off alarmingly in the second half of the campaign and he became involved in a public bust-up with Klopp last month, heightening speculation that he could depart as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.
However, Salah seemed to rule out that prospect as he vowed to lead Liverpool to more silv…
Chelsea have been told the decision not to award them a penalty in their 0-0 draw with Manchester United last month was incorrect, Frank Lampard has revealed.
Cesar Azpilicueta was impeded by Harry Maguire as he jumped to meet a cross in the first half at Old Trafford but referee Martin Atkinson did not point to the spot and the VAR upheld his decision.
Chelsea were more fortunate in their 3-0 win over Rennes on Wednesday, as Dalbert was shown a second yellow card for handball after Tammy Abraham s shot ricocheted off the Brazilian defender s leg and up onto his arm.
In the Premier League this season, 27 of the 68 games played (39.7 per cent) have seen at least one penalty taken. It is significantly up on the mark of 23 per cent from 2019-20 and 14 per cent highe…
Switzerland will aim to defeat Italy for the first time in 28 years on Wednesday and breathe new life into their Euro 2020 campaign.
The Azzurri were in impressive form as they opened the tournament with a 3-0 defeat of Turkey, extending their recent run to nine consecutive victories without conceding a goal.
Switzerland dominated much of their Group A opener against Wales but saw a Kieffer Moore header cancel out Breel Embolo s opener in Baku.
That result means Vladimir Petkovic s side could become the first team in European Championship history to draw five consecutive matches should they fail to beat Italy.
History is not on their side – Switzerland last defeated Italy in Bern in World Cup qualifying in 1993.
Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini wa…