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Friday 47 Sports Friday, December 20, 2019 Barcelona, Real draw as Clasico marred by violence BARCELONA: Barcelona and Real Madrid ther Barcelona nor Real ever really at their best could not be separated on Wednesday in a Cla- and both, perhaps in the end, happier not to win sico that was overshadowed by violent clashes than to lose. between Catalan independence protestors and A goalless draw means Barcelona stay top of police outside Camp Nou. La Liga, ahead of Real on goal difference while After being postponed in October, there were the historic score in league meetings between renewed fears of unrest around Spain’s most fa- the two rivals remains 72 victories apiece. mous fixture and while the match was only “More than a Clasico”, read the frontpage of briefly interrupted by yellow beach balls thrown Barcelona daily Mundo Deportivo on Wednes- onto the pitch, outside the stadium, chaos en- day morning ahead of a fixture that while always sued. Masked protesters had set bins on fire and politically charged, had assumed even greater thrown rocks and glass bottles at police, who re- significance than usual. sponded by firing foam bullets. Forty-six people The game was originally due to be played on were lightly injured in the clashes, including eight October 26 but was postponed due to violent who needed to be taken to a medical centre for protests breaking out across Catalonia, follow- extra care, local emergency services said. ing the sentencing of nine independence leaders Five people were arrested, according to a po- to prison. In the 53 days since, expectations lice spokesman. The protesters, many of them swelled around what Democratic Tsunami, the carrying Catalan separatist flags, began setting Catalan independence protest group, might do up barricades in the middle of the street which to disrupt the most watched club football match they then burned, after police arrived in dozens in the world. But in truth, there was less than ex- of police vans. Inside the stadium, the match pected during the 90 minutes. Early in the sec- passed largely undisturbed, save for a brief ond half, yellow beachballs were thrown onto the BARCELONA: Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (R) challenges Barcelona’s Argentine forward pause early in the second half as dozens of yel- field while blue banners bearing the slogan of Lionel Messi (C) next to Real Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during the “El Clasico” Spanish low beach balls had to be removed by stewards. Democratic Tsunami: ‘Spain, sit and talk’, were League football match between Barcelona FC and Real Madrid CF. —AFP “There was tension in the game and I noticed also held up. when some yellow balls fell down,” said Four hours before kick-off, thousands had Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde. gathered at all four corners of the stadium to hotel and aside from whistles and insults di- time in four matches. Ramos played in his 43rd “But nothing more. We tried to give a sense hold the same blue banners and wave Catalan rected at the Madrid team bus, each arrived Clasico, a record for any player in history. For of normality.” “Everyone wanted to see a good flags, while some blocked traffic too. But the without incident. Club president Florentino Barcelona, Sergio Busquets was included in the football match,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. demonstrations were peaceful, in stark contrast Perez gave a thumbs up as he walked in. line-up first announced before he was swapped “In that sense I think we can be happy.” The to the ugly scenes that would come a few hours Gareth Bale was last to get off, by which time out for Ivan Rakitic. Barca claimed it had been a game was less eventful than expected, with nei- later. Both teams had departed from the same he might have known he was starting for the first communication error. —AFP Firmino takes Reds into Teenage Zirkzee sparks Club World Cup final Bayern’s winning late show DOHA: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is looking quickly as possible and then make ourselves forward to a “really tough game” in the Club World ready.” He will hope to have Virgil van Dijk back fit BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s Joshua Zirkzee The goal seemed to calm Bayern, with the Cup final against Flamengo after Roberto Firmino’s for the final after the inspirational Dutch centre- scored on his Bundesliga debut, just two min- Bavarians content to dominate possession injury-time goal gave the Anfield side a hard- back sat out the Monterrey game due to illness, utes after coming onto the pitch in his team’s without making too many incursions into the fought 2-1 win over Monterrey of Mexico on leaving skipper Jordan Henderson to partner Joe last-gasp 3-1 win away at SC Freiburg on Freiburg end. After the half-time break, Wednesday. Gomez in defence. Wednesday. Freiburg showed the form that has taken them Firmino came off the bench to turn in a cross “It was an easy decision because he couldn’t The 18-year-old Dutchman came on in the to sixth in the table, catching Bayern on the from fellow substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold in train yesterday — he was on the pitch for a couple 90th minute before breaking a 1-1 deadlock, counter to create several half chances. the 91st minute at the Khalifa International Stadium of minutes until the media left, and then unfortu- becoming the youngest player to score a goal Vincenzo Grifo equalised in the 59th in Doha after Naby Keita’s early opener for a nately he had to leave as well,” Klopp said about this Bundesliga season. Bayern’s Serge Gnabry minute, nailing Janik Haberer’s cross to give weakened Liverpool side had swiftly been can- Van Dijk, who has played in every Premier League added another in the final minute of injury time Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer no chance. celled out by Argentine striker Rogelio Funes Mori. and Champions League game this season. “We will to put the result beyond doubt, crushing the Freiburg had several chances to take the lead Having taken time out from their seemingly relent- see how quick he can recover.” hopes of a dogged and determined home side. as the clock ran down, with Bayern’s players less march towards the Premier League title to In addition, Klopp chose to leave Sadio Mane “When you score two goals with just min- visibly shaken by the home team’s relentless travel to Qatar, Liverpool will be relieved at coming on the bench at kick-off along with Firmino and utes remaining to win the game, of course the pressing. through this test, and they remain on course to win Alexander-Arnold, instead handing starts to the bus ride home will have a different feel than if The win sees Bayern go into third place, this competition for the first time. However, they likes of Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri and Di- it had gone otherwise,” said Bayern caretaker four points behind Leipzig and Borussia must now beat a Flamengo side who have won the vock Origi. boss Hansi Flick. Moenchengladbach. Flick said he had faith in Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian title in the last “It was only possible the hard way,” said Klopp It was business as usual early for Bayern, Zirkzee after some impressive showings on the month under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, and of the way in which his side won, with Firmino’s late with Philippe Coutinho’s chip over goalkeeper training pitch. who will have had an extra day to prepare for the goal coming after goalkeeper Alisson made a string Mark Flekken cleared off the line after just two “I simply thought that when another winger final after defeating Saudi club Al-Hilal 3-1 on of key saves to stop Monterrey from going in front. minutes. came on he could score — he is a striker and Tuesday. “We had problems before the game, we knew In the 16th minute, 19-year-old Canadian he shoots well, also in training. He’s been with “Tough game, really tough game,” said Klopp we would have some problems in the game, but I Alphonso Davies put in a superb cross from us (the main team) for three weeks and the de- when asked about the prospect of facing Flamengo really think the boys did exceptionally well.” the left wing, with Robert Lewandowski on the velopment has been noteworthy,” Flick said. in what will be a repeat of the 1981 Intercontinental At such a busy stage in the season, Klopp also spot to open the scoring. It was “There were two completely different Cup final, when a Brazilian team captained by Zico admitted his relief when the winning goal went in, Lewandowski’s 19th league goal of the season halves. The first half we could’ve lead two or beat Bob Paisley’s European Cup holders 3-0 in saying: “I was actually afraid of extra time to be — and the sixth time he opened the scoring three to nil, but I must say that Freiburg in the Tokyo. “Flamengo’s season is over, they are here honest so I was more than happy when Bobby for Munich this campaign. second half played well.”—AFP with a full squad, but we just have to recover as scored that goal.” — AFP.

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