46 Friday Sports Friday, September 13, 2019 Still missing Messi, Barca challenged to ‘make things click’ against Valencia BARCELONA: With Lionel Messi still injured, and Luis Suarez also remain injured ahead of faltering La Liga champions Barcelona host the visit of Valencia, who Barca failed to beat Valencia tomorrow needing to prove they can in three games last season, including losing 2- produce big performances without their talis- 1 to them in the Copa del Rey final. man. Messi has not played a minute of football Valencia are in a turmoil of their own, how- this season due to a calf injury and without him ever, after coach Marcelino, who transformed Barca have made their worst start to a cam- them from fallen giants to fiercely competitive paign since 2008, taking four points from three top-four contenders, was sacked due to a re- games. ported fall out with owner Peter Lim over While they thrashed Real Betis 5-2 in their transfer policy. previous home game, they stumbled to a 2-2 The inexperienced Albert Celades, the for- draw at promoted Osasuna in their last outing, mer coach of Spain’s under-21 side, has been failing to have a shot on goal in the first half in given the job amid widespread criticism. a performance coach Ernesto Valverde de- “Marcelino fulfilled every objective he was scribed as “awful”. hired for, sacking him is an outrage,” said for- Messi, who confirmed he will not be back to mer Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares. face Valencia and still does not know when he “Celades has only coached youth players will return, urged his team mates to take a step and has no credentials to work in the top flight. up after their haphazard start. He has no idea what he has gotten himself in “It has been a strange start because we for and what the dressing room is like. He will have had a lot more injuries than normal,” have his work cut out from the start.” Messi told newspaper Sport. Elsewhere on Saturday, leaders Atletico “I’m not worried although we are all aware Madrid visit Real Sociedad in the first game at that we cannot afford to make a bad start like the revamped Anoeta stadium looking to make this and after the international break we need it four wins out of four. to make things click, strengthen as a team and Real Madrid host Levante missing a total of SEVILLE: File photo taken on November 29, 2008 Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o (R) celebrates after scoring against start winning matches.” nine players, with Luka Modric the latest to Sevilla’s with Lionel Andres Messi (L) during their Spanish league football match at Sanchez Pizjuan stadium Messi’s fellow forwards Ousmane Dembele suffer an injury. —Reuters in Seville. —AFP “We’re aware that there is history there Southgate fears and we want to make sure that we’re all pre- pared for what might happen and how we further racist want to respond. “We didn’t think it was right to do it Late penalty lifts this month because it’s too far away from abuse in Bulgaria the games, but we have to hope. We’re Rapids over Galaxy not confident that we’ll go there and LONDON: England manager Gareth South- nothing will happen.” gate fears his players could face more racial NEW YORK: Nicolas Mezquida converted a penalty in the 85th UEFA has ordered the Bulgarian Football abuse in Bulgaria after an away supporter al- minute to lift the Colorado Rapids to a wild 2-1 Major League Union to partially close the Vasil Levski na- legedly targeted Raheem Sterling when the tional stadium for England’s visit after support- Soccer victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday. teams met at Wembley last weekend. ers were found guilty of racist behaviour in A furious finish at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in suburban The Football Association has said an indi- matches earlier this year. Denver saw Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett break a 0-0 dead- vidual was ejected from the national stadium Southgate also expressed concern over the lock in the 79th minute, nodding in a header off Jack Price’s for “discriminatory abuse” during Saturday’s 4- behaviour of England fans on upcoming trips cross. Three minutes later, Giancarlo Gonzalez soared to head 0 Euro 2020 qualifying victory over Bulgaria. to Czech Republic and Bulgaria, after violence in a corner and make it 1-1. Bulgarian supporters made monkey chants But the Rapids gained a chance from the spot for Mezquida at England’s black players when the side last involving some supporters overshadowed the after first-year forward Andre Shinyashiki was brought down in visited Sofia in 2011, prompting UEFA to fine recent Nations League finals in Portugal. the box. the Bulgarian Football Union 40,000 euros “I’m afraid that it is a societal issue of peo- For most of the match, it was down to Galaxy goalkeeper ($44,000). ple with alcohol unable to control themselves,” David Bingham and his opposite number Clint Irwin, who com- “It is a concern,” Southgate, who plans to he said. “But we certainly don’t want to be tak- bined for 16 saves. consult his players before the Oct. 14 en- ing that abroad and that being a representa- Gareth Southgate There was controversy in second-half stoppage time, when counter, told British media. tion of our country.” —Reuters Galaxy forward Cristian Pavon was shown a red card after try- ing to win the ball near the corner flag — a punishment reduced fore attempting to reach the heights they did vinced.” Former striker Andy Cole said sup- to a yellow card upon video review. Wenger says Man under his great rival. porters must be patient as United, who were With the defeat, the Galaxy finished the night in eighth place “When you see United, they are one of the sixth last season, work on plugging the gap to in the Western Conference standings, one point behind FC Dal- Utd not mature examples where there’s a potential. But they champions Manchester City and Liverpool. las for the seventh and final MLS Cup playoff spot. have not found a collective way,” Wenger, “I believe we’re still a few years away,” A victory could have moved them as high as third in the enough for title tilt who is reportedly https://nyti.ms/2kFS37y Cole, who won five league titles and the 1999 crowded conference. set to join FIFA in a technical role, told Qatar- Champions League during six years at Old In the Eastern Conference, New York City FC and Toronto LONDON: Manchester United’s current based broadcaster beIN Sports. Trafford, told Sky Sports. split the points with a 1-1 draw at Yankee Stadium, where both squad lacks the maturity required to mount a “Maybe these players are not mature “We’ve got to ... keep bringing in better teams extended their unbeaten streaks to six games. serious challenge for the Premier League title, enough to carry the team play of a team like players and try and improve season by sea- New York’s Romanian forward Alexandru Mitrita rifled a free although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s players have United, altogether. That’s the question mark son, because the two teams at the top - kick past the wall and into the top corner from 20 yards out to potential, former Arsenal Manager Arsene now. You feel there is something coming out Liverpool and City - they’re pulling away open the scoring in the sixth minute. Wenger said. but it’s not ready. from everyone. Toronto equalized in the 40th with a penalty from Alejandro United have won the league 20 times but “When you watch them play, they are not “I was in a team at United where we were Pozuelo after Sebastien Ibeagha pulled down Jozy Altidore in have not lifted the trophy since Alex Fergu- a candidate to fight for the championship. Will doing exactly the same thing and in the end, the box. —AFP son’s final season in 2012-13, and Wenger they emulate what Giggs, Scholes and Beck- everyone else closed the gap.” United face suggested the club have a long way to go be- ham did over a number of years? I’m not con- Leicester in the league tomorrow. —Reuters.