Fati and Messi Connection Sees Barca Hold on Against Levante Sevilla Held to a 1-1 Draw at Home to Alaves
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27 Sports Tuesday, February 4, 2020 Fati and Messi connection sees Barca hold on against Levante Sevilla held to a 1-1 draw at home to Alaves MADRID: Ansu Fati became the youngest player ever break. Fati has been one of the main beneficiaries of to score a brace in La Liga on Sunday by capitalising Setien’s arrival. He exploded onto the scene at the start on two brilliant Lionel Messi assists to give Barcelona a of the season but was used increasingly rarely by 2-1 victory over Levante. Valverde, who may have been wary of burdening the Fati, at 17 years and 94 days old, broke the previous teenager with too much too soon. record held by Juanmi Jimenez, who scored twice for Instead, Setien has started Fati in all five of his Malaga against Real Zaragoza at 17 years and 115 days games in charge so far and this was the first time his old in 2010. Messi teed up Fati’s quick-fire double with faith has really been rewarded. “He is a boy who is a defence-splitting pass and then a trademark weaving emerging and has great potential,” Setien said. “Today run before Ruben Rochina scored Levante’s goal in the he had a historic day for his goals and for helping the 92nd minute, which really should have come sooner. team.” Messi’s own excellent form also continues. He Barca reduce the gap at the top to three points now has nine goals and four assists in his last 10 league behind Real Madrid and begin to regain some rhythm games. His first set-up for Fati came from the centre under new coach Quique Setien after Thursday’s 5-0 circle where he played a reverse pass through three thumping of Leganes in the Copa del Rey. “We could Levante players that sent clear his teammate, who cut have won 8-2 or 8-3,” said Setien. “We lost a little con- inside Jorge Miramon and finished. trol in the second half and conceded too much but it Less than two minutes later, Fati was in again. was a good job from the team.” Levante lost the ball upfield and Gerard Pique fired Yet Levante should have converted more of a hand- straight into Messi inside the right flank, midway inside ful of excellent chances in the second half, that sug- the opposition’s half. gested Barcelona’s defensive problems and fragility He drove into the penalty area and when he finally when in the lead are far from solved. Leganes and stopped by a cluster of Levante chasers, he slid left to Levante, who sit 18th and 13th respectively, offered a Fati, who fired through the legs of Aitor Fernandez for a relatively straight-forward route back to winning ways second. Nelson Semedo crashed a shot against the too for Barcelona, who were wobbling last weekend crossbar and then hopped over Tono only for Antoine when they followed a last-gasp win over Segunda side Griezmann to tap wide at the front post. Ibiza with a convincing defeat by Valencia. But Levante were more dangerous in the second half Setien, who replaced Ernesto Valverde as coach last and could have taken a draw if they had been more BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Guinea-Bissau forward Ansu Fati (L) scores during the Spanish league football month, found his methods questioned and there was clinical with a handful of opportunities. match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. — AFP evidence against Levante to suggest he may have The best of them fell to Gonzalo Melero, who blazed decided to introduce his style of play more gradually. over, and by the time Rochina’s shot flew through one Barca played with more urgency and ambition, their pair of legs and in off the hands of Marc-Andre ter League qualification as Getafe beat Athletic Bilbao to Madrid and Barcelona. dominance of possession sacrificed occasionally for Stegen, there were only two minutes remaining. climb to third. Jose Bordalas’ team are now ahead of Sevilla on goal riskier passes forward. Yet Levante also pressed high There was time for one Levante attack and Sergio Real Sociedad lost 2-1 away at struggling Leganes difference, while Real Sociedad are five points further and left gaps to be exploited, despite the likes of Busquets’ weak header gave Rochina another chance while Sevilla were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Alaves. back. Getafe missed out on fourth on the final day of Valencia and Granada enjoying more success against but he could not keep his shot down. Sevilla and Real In between, Getafe had carved out a 2-0 victory away last season but they continue to prove their challenge Setien’s team by sitting deep and bursting out on the Sociedad both lost ground in the race for Champions at Bilbao to put them in pole position behind Real was far from a one-off. — AFP Haaland and Sancho, Matches on TV Dortmund’s pronged (Local Timings) teenage attack SPAIN COPA DEL REY Granada CF v Valencia C.F 23:00 beIN SPORTS BERLIN: Lost among the increasingly jus- Since arriving from Manchester City, tified hype surrounding teenage sensation Sancho has also chalked up 34 assists for FRENCH LEAGUE Erling Braut Haaland has been the stellar Dortmund — including 13 this season — form of another 19-year-old Borussia to have the pair shaping up as the most AS Monaco FC v Angers SCO Dortmund forward, Jadon Sancho. dangerous two-pronged attack in German beIN SPORTS While Sancho’s combination with football. LOSC Lille v Stade Rennais 21:00 Dortmund captain Marco Reus drove the After the victory over Union, Sancho DORTMUND: Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland celebrates after beIN SPORTS side to within two points of Bundesliga hailed the start of what is already a formi- scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match Borussia FC Nantes v Paris Saint-Germain 23:05 champions Bayern Munich last season, the dable combination. “We combine very well Dortmund vs FC Union Berlin in Dortmund. — AFP beIN SPORTS Englishman’s budding rapport with and we’re able to bring that into the games Haaland suggests the side could go one and help the team,” Sancho told the better this term. Bundesliga website. “I’m really happy he’s He warned the rest of the Bundesliga — as teammate Paco Alcacer to see that there’s In the three games since Haaland’s here.” Also speaking after the game, well as Dortmund’s Champions League last no guarantee the good times will last. arrival, the two teenagers have scored 10 Haaland”s feelings towards the Englishman 16 opponents Paris Saint-Germain — that Alcacer started his Dortmund career Rampant Enyimba, of Dortmund’s 15 goals, while they’ve also were clearly mutual. “You can see on the he’s yet to hit his stride in the German top with six goals in his first 81 minutes — a racked up four assists between them. pitch it (the relationship) is very good. He’s division. “It was really tough but it was record bettered by Haaland by four min- Haaland’s seven goals in three games — a great guy,” Haaland said. “I’m enjoying also nice. I need to get fitter but that will utes when scoring his first against Union. resilient Zanaco a Bundesliga record — adds to the 28 he my time here so far. My teammates are come with more games. I’m not yet at 100 Alcacer departed before the winter scored in just half a season with former good and as you can see that makes it eas- percent.” Speaking to the Bundesliga transfer deadline to Villarreal, after injuries reach CAF q-finals club Red Bull Salzburg, making for an ier for me.” website after Dortmund’s 5-1 win over and a run of poor form — as well as the exceptional return of 35 goals from 25 While one of Haaland’s stated goals on Cologne in late January — in which big Norwegian’s arrival — saw him fall out appearances. In the yellow and black, signing day was to learn German, his on- Haaland scored a brace — Sancho said his of favour. But with RB Leipzig and JOHANNESBURG: Enyimba of Nigeria went on a scoring Haaland has now scored once every 19 field relationship with Sancho shows no teammate’s drive was clearly evident. Borussia Moenchengladbach’s form strug- spree and Zanaco of Zambia defended doggedly Sunday to minutes — another Bundesliga record. signs of being lost in translation. “We do “As you can tell, he’s very clinical in gles since the winter break, Dortmund fans book the two CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals places Not willing to be outdone, Sancho’s 13th- everything in English. But what is most front of goal - but he was disappointed will hope Haaland — as well as sidekick up for grabs. minute opener in Dortmund’s 5-0 win over important is that we understand each other today because he should have scored Sancho — will be able to continue their Victor Mbaoma scored twice as former African champions Union Berlin on Saturday made him the on the field based on instinct - just like three or more goals.” assault on the Bundesliga as the side look Enyimba trounced San Pedro of the Ivory Coast 5-2 in youngest player — and only teenager — today.” Haaland is not content to rest on But while the Norwegian is flying high, to break Bayern Munich’s seven-year Abidjan to fill the second qualifying place in Group D.