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Analysis: Four things to look out for in Spain’s Matchday 20

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MADRID, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) — La Liga moves into the second half of the season this weekend, with Barcelona five points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table. Here are some things to look out for in the coming days in Spain.

1. Difficult trip for Real Madrid on eve of FIFA Club World Cup

Real Madrid’s visit to Mallorca on paper looks to be a tough game against a well-organized rival that is solid at home, and who have only conceded 18 goals all campaign.

Javier Aguirre has done a good job on the island and although his side doesn’t score many goals (15 all campaign), the fact they have won their last three home matches 1-0 shows the task facing Real Madrid.

Madrid travel after beating Valencia on Thursday night, with Eder Militao and Karim Benzema joining Ferland Mendy and Lucas Vazquez on the injury list. And with the FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco next week, there is no let-up for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

2. Atletico Madrid could spell the end for former coach Quique

Arguably Saturday’s biggest game sees Atletico Madrid entertain Getafe in the Metropolitano Stadium in a Madrid derby.

While Atletico go into the match on the back of consecutive league wins, Getafe have slipped to second from bottom after four successive defeats. With just 17 points from their first 19 matches, there is a feeling that a team containing players such as Borja Mayoral, Enes Unal, Carles Alena and Omar Alderete is seriously underperforming.

There were rumors coach Quique Sanchez Flores was facing the sack after last weekend’s loss at home to Betis. Although he clung onto his job, another setback would surely see the man, who counts Atletico among his former employers, out of the door.

3. Defense the key as Barca face improving Sevilla

Although most conversations about FC Barcelona tend to focus on their attacking football, Barca’s defense has been the key to their leadership this season. The own goal Jules Kounde scored against Betis on Wednesday night was just the seventh goal they have conceded in La Liga all season.

Bearing in mind that Barca have won five out of their last six league matches by just a single goal, defensive solidness rather than their effectiveness in front of goal has been the difference.

That is not just down to defenders, but also to midfielders such as Gavi, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, who get back to help out at the back. With Ousmane Dembele still out for the Sevilla game, that work ethic will be vital once again.

4. More pain for Valencia?

Valencia coach Gennaro Gattuso left the club by ‘mutual consent’ on Monday, with ‘Voro’ Gonzalez named to temporarily replace him.

Voro’s seventh spell as caretaker manager got off to a bad start on Thursday when his side fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Real Madrid.

With no signing in January and a squad that gets weaker every season, Valencia are just a point above the relegation zone and could even be in it by the time they kick off their match in Girona.

Girona are a well-drilled outfit with a sting in attack, and unless Voro can improve morale, Valencia could be headed for another painful defeat.

Source(s): Xinhua

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Germany one of UEFA Euro 2024 favorites, says Matthaeus

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by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) — Enthusiastic fan chants filled the Frankfurt arena as a determined team pushed its way to success, impressing pundits. The German national team seems rejuvenated after a remarkable transformation.

“We see and feel something that wasn’t there before,” remarked Real star Toni Kroos, the driving force behind the 2014 World Champions, upon his return after an absence of over two years.

“The team went through dark times and many months of drought, but we managed to build up faith and confidence in these two games and our training sessions,” the midfielder stated.

Having defeated France (2-0) and the Netherlands (2-1), two of Europe’s leading sides, feels like a refreshing restart without inherited burdens for the German national team.

The fundamental changes implemented by national coach Julian Nagelsmann have sparked a new spirit and opened doors for bold dreams, as not only German record international Lothar Matthaeus has redefined new goals for the Euro tournament host.

“From what I see, the team can win the trophy this summer,” said the 63-year-old former midfielder, who has been capped 150 times, referring to the Euro taking place from June 15 to July 15 in ten German arenas.

Just in time, Nagelsmann pressed the emergency button, leaving out established forces and relying on a strict performance pattern, only selecting players currently performing at a high level, regardless of the number of internationals in the German shirt.

Last autumn, Germany seemed to have hit rock bottom, suffering from two disappointing defeats against Turkey and Austria.

“We are back on track as we feel a new spirit, and things are going much better for everyone and the entire team,” said Bayern full-back and midfielder Joshua Kimmich.

Stuttgart full-back and national team newcomer Maximilian Mittelstaedt spoke of “something big” on the way.

Nagelsmann’s strategy to outline clear areas of responsibility for each of his players has created stability, while the coach has returned to a more conservative line-up, paying attention to the team’s defense.

A back row of four with two midfielders ahead is allowing offensive forces such as Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Ilkay Guendogan, and Kai Havertz to initiate surprising attacks.

With Mittelstaedt and Kimmich, the German coach seems to have solved the full-back problem that the team had been suffering from for several years.

With Union midfielder Robert Andrich, Nagelsmann seems to have found the holding six, covering the defensive midfield part aside from conducting Kroos.

While several newcomers and returnees enjoy the upswing, left-out players such as Dortmund’s stars Mats Hummels, Niklas Suele, Emre Can, and Julian Brandt, aside from Bayern’s Leon Goretzka, are in danger of missing Euro 2024.

Regarding his job as a project focused solely on the Euro outcome, Nagelsmann has instilled confidence by creating a tight-knit community.

Both recent victories have revitalized Germany’s national team, and as a side effect, previously disappointed fans are once again backing their team.

Source(s): Xinhua

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VAM appoints former president to lead once again

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Volleyball Association of Maldives (VAM) has appointed Mohamed Latheef, as its new president.

Latheef, who was the association’s president in 2016, was appointed to the position without an election. He was appointed at the association’s extarordinary congress held on Tuesday evening at Solite Restaurants.

He came to fill in the shoes of outogoing Mohamed Ranesh after his term expired on February 2024.

Since Latheef was the only one to submit his name for the position, the former Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) President was appointed without any competition.

Besides the president, the extraordinary congress saw the election of four other Vice Presidents to the executive committee of VAM, with Mohamed Sajid securing Senior Vice President’s position.

Ali Latheef was elected as Vice President, Volleyball, and Izzath Waheed was elected as Vice President, Administration. Aaidha Abdul Hakeem was elected for the female-designate Vice President’s seat.

Additionally, four more members were elected for VAM’s executive committee that include Fathuhulla Waheed, Shiyam Ali, Sofwan Ahmed and Aishath Fatheena.

Although Latheef was first elected as VAM’s President in 2016, he lost the position after the then Sports Commissioner Heena Ahmed Saleem announced the disolution of the association’s executive committee in 2019 following an investigation.

Previously, VAM’s election to elect executive committee members was scheduled for March 15th, but the current Sports Commissioner Mohamed Tholal demanded for a delay.

The association received permission to go ahead with the election under conditions.

Source(s): sun.mv

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ACC raids Badminton Association as part of corruption probe

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Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), on Tuesday, raided the Badminton Association of Maldives as part of a probe into corruption allegations.

ACC, on Tuesday, said an investigative team of the commission has entered the Badminton Association of Maldives to gather questions and information regarding multiple allegations of corruption filed against the association with the commission.

They did not disclose any further details regarding the case.

The case has come to light after major corruption cases against Football Association of Maldives (FAM) have been investigated following which charges have been sought against some individuals.

Source(s): sun.mv

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