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Sevilla face tough task against Barca in Super Cup second leg
MADRID: Sevilla have a mountain to climb in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday if they are to overcome Barcelona.
MADRID: Sevilla have a mountain to climb in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday if they are to overcome Barcelona.
Goals from Luis Suarez and Munir El Haddadi earned last year’s Liga and Copa del Rey winners a 2-0 victory in Andalusia on Sunday and they have one hand on the trophy.
Jorge Sampaoli’s men impressed in the first half but struggled to create many clear chances and now find themselves in an extremely tough position going into the return fixture at the Camp Nou.
The Argentine coach believes playing against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup last Tuesday harmed his side’s chances of victory in this competition.
“We came from 120 minutes against Real Madrid and had several casualties. The calendar has hurt us a bit and we’re feeling the weight of fatigue,” he explained after the defeat. “Hopefully we will play a more dignified role (in the return leg).”
RODGERS HOPES FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RETURN
GLASGOW: Celtic will be on familiar ground when they take on Hapoel Beer-Sheva for a place in the Champions League in the first leg of their play-off tie at Parkhead on Wednesday. For the past two seasons the Hoops have reached the play-off round to put themselves within touching distance of the riches of the group stage only to see the £20 million (23 million euros, $25.8 million) prize money snatched away from them.
GOALKEEPER ATTACKED BY FAN IN SWEDEN
STOCKHOLM: A first-division game in Sweden was abandoned Monday after the goalkeeper for the visiting team was attacked by a pitch invader.
The match between Jonkopings Sodra and Ostersunds was approaching full-time when a masked black-clad supporter burst onto the pitch and assaulted away keeper Aly Keita. The goalkeeper was chased and struck before players and security officials intervened and arrested the attacker.