22 Monday, January 8, 2018 SPORTS Barcelona complete the formalities of Nou Camp during the summer suffering a hamstring injury Barcelona swept into the lead. for Barcelona -- and the ionel Messi marked his his £142 million transfer from of 2014, added a second before on his LaLiga debut following nodded the ball hosts were soon looking for 400th LaLiga appearance Liverpool, but it remained the break and Paulinho tapped a £93m move, came back into back out to the edge of the another as Dembele’s effort withL an early goal as leaders business as usual for Ernesto in a late third as the Blaugrana the starting XI, while Barcelona penalty area, which dropped was saved, with Suarez sending Barcelona beat Levante 3-0 at Valverde’s men yesterday consolidated first place ahead captain Andres Iniesta made straight into the path of Messi, the rebound just over. the Nou Camp to restore their afternoon as Messi opened the of Atletico Madrid, who had his 650th appearance. and the Argentine playmaker Levante offered a threat at nine-point advantage. scoring after 12 minutes. beaten Getafe on Saturday. After a positive start from sent a half-volley in off the the other end on 19 minutes has In-form Luis Suarez, who Ousmane Levante, who had lost all 11 La post. when Marc-Andre ter Stegen headed to to himself left Anfield for the Dembele, fit again after Liga games at the Nou Camp, It was Messi’s 365th league had to be alert to push a low shot from Ivi Lopez behind. Barcelona, though, added a second after 37 minutes. Sergi Roberto was played clear on the overlap down the right, and he cut the ball back to Suarez, who took the ball in his stride with a fine first touch before crashing a volley in off the underside of the crossbar. Midfielder Ivan Rakitic saw his shot fly wide and, in first-half stoppage time, Levante keeper Oier Olazabal produced a decent save after Messi had been played clear. Levante almost reduced the deficit at the start of the second half when Lopez again forced Ter Stegen into a fine reaction save. The Barcelona keeper had to be alert again on 65 minutes Messi, Suarez as he stuck out a leg to block a low shot from Shaquell Moore, who had ghosted in at the far post. Suarez, who had scored four goals in his previous three net as Barca LaLiga matches, was sent clear by a long pass from Javier Luis Suárez scores Barcelona’s second Mascherano. The striker’s goal (Picture courtesy: theguardian) first scuffed shot was blocked and his angled effort from the rebound saved at the near post beat Levante by Olazabal. (espn.in) Tottenham see off Wimbledon London an Vertonghen scored his first club goal in five years Jand bagged a brace but Tottenham’s FA Cup win over AFC Wimbledon was far from straightforward. Nottingham Forest’s Eric Lichaj celebrates Wimbledon’s Jimmy Abdou scoring the second goal (Picture courtesy: hit the crossbar with a curling theguardian) first-half effort and Spurs needed 63 nervy minutes at Wembley before finally breaking down their League Arsenal knocked out One opponents. When they did, however, West Bridgford Welbeck’s goal in a 4-2 win the floodgates opened, as rsene Wenger lost an for the Championship side. Kane scored twice in as many FA Cup third-round tie Wenger’s influence on minutes before Vertonghen Afor the first time as holders matters was reduced as he capped a 3-0 victory with a Arsenal crashed out against watched from the stands. The sensational long-range strike. Nottingham Forest in an Frenchman served the first ’s side action-packed clash at the of a three-match touchline will now await Monday’s fourth City Ground. ban after being hit with a round draw as Tottenham Harry Kane scores Tottenham’s first goal in their FA Cup (Picture courtesy: theguardian) Wenger has become the misconduct charge and a edge one step closer to ending competition’s most successful £40,000 fine by the Football their 10-year wait for a major manager, winning it seven Association for his recent, trophy. Kane registered his first and greatest creative threat early on were enjoying every minute, times since taking charge and very public, criticism of Wimbledon, meanwhile, second of 2018, before going and he went closest to scoring, taunting Kane and then of the Gunners in 1996, but referees. turn their attention back to off with 13 minutes to play. his volley stinging the hands of celebrating like they had the country’s longest-serving He made nine changes their relegation fight in the He was one of only a few goalkeeper George Long. scored when their team won a boss was undone by Forest from the team that started league but they were certainly Spurs star names to start Kane was a brooding corner soon after. caretaker manger Gary Brazil the midweek not embarrassed here as a the match, with Dele Alli, presence in the visitors’ box They almost had the real on Sunday. draw with Chelsea, with just disciplined defensive display and Son but after a couple of early thing too when Michel Vorm Eric Lichaj scored Rob Holding and Ainsley threatened to upset their Heung-min all left on the sighters he blasted over from made a mess of a high ball twice either side of Per Maitland-Niles keeping Premier League opponents for bench. Victor Wanyama, back eight yards the sort of chance and then Abdou rattled Mertesacker’s equaliser their places in the team, and just over an hour. from injury, made his first start he might normally convert in Tottenham’s crossbar with a before penalties from Wenger saw his side lack But, after hitting a record- since August. his sleep. bending long-range shot. (PA Ben Brereton and Kieran fluency early on as Forest breaking 39 goals last year, Lamela was Tottenham’s The Wimbledon fans Sport) Dowell sandwiched Danny started well. (espn.in)