Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

Fati returns in Messi's No. 10 shirt to lift struggling Barcelona

by French Press Agency - AFP

MADRID Sep 27, 2021 - 11:32 am GMT+3
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Ansu Fati (C) celebrates his goal with teammates during a La Liga match against Levante at the Camp Nou, Barcelona, Sept. 26, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Ansu Fati (C) celebrates his goal with teammates during a La Liga match against Levante at the Camp Nou, Barcelona, Sept. 26, 2021. (AFP Photo)
by French Press Agency - AFP Sep 27, 2021 11:32 am
RECOMMENDED
Galatasary's Mauro Icardi during the Turkish Super Lig match against Besiktas at NEF Stadium, Istanbul, Türkiye, Nov. 5, 2022. (Getty Images Photo)

Icardi on brink of milestone ahead of Trabzonspor matchup

SÜPER-LİG

After nearly 10 months out injured, Barcelona's Ansu Fati made a memorable return as he lifted a struggling Barcelona side with a goal in a 3-0 victory over Levante on Sunday.

Fati, wearing the No. 10 shirt previously belonging to Lionel Messi, came on to a raucous reception at Camp Nou, 323 days after his last appearance in November last year.

And the 18-year-old came back in style, carrying the ball forward and lashing it into the net in injury time to complete a much-needed victory for Barca.

Fati was hoisted into the air by his teammates and then he climbed into the crowd behind the substitutes bench, to embrace members of his family and the club's medical staff.

"I want to say thank you to the doctors and everyone who has been with me through all this, and the fans who have been unbelievable," said Fati afterward.

After needing three operations on a knee injury, many wondered if Fati would ever get back to the levels he showed so spectacularly when he first broke into the first team in 2019.

There is still a long way to go for the teenager but his return, and a brilliant goal, raised the roof at Camp Nou and lifted spirits after a turbulent few weeks consumed by speculation about Koeman's future.

"You saw the reaction in the stadium – we know he is a very good player," said Koeman's assistant Alfred Schreuder, who took on media duties with Koeman serving a touchline ban.

"The goal was not even a chance. He created it out of nothing. This is the individual quality he has and it's what we need."

Koeman may not be saved by this result – the club could look to make a change during the upcoming international window – but there was at least renewed positivity inside the stadium, even before Fati's dramatic intervention.

Barcelona's first win in four games moves it up to fifth in La Liga, five points behind Real Madrid with a game in hand. It plays Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano next weekend.

New era?

Memphis Depay had given Barca an early lead with a penalty and Luuk de Jong made it two by scoring his first goal for the club since joining from Sevilla on the last day of the transfer window.

But the real excitement centered around the 17-year-old Gavi and 19-year-old Nico Gonzalez, both academy graduates, who delivered displays to suggest Barca's youngsters could yet be the faces of the new era.

Depay earned the penalty he scored in the fifth minute when he skipped past and tripped over the dangling leg of Nemanja Radoja before converting to give Barca the perfect start.

De Jong's second was instigated by Depay as well as he released Sergino Dest down the left, who cut inside and curled a pass into the striker, who took the ball on and fired in.

Barca should have extended its lead before halftime.

Gerard Pique somehow poked wide from a yard out before Gavi's superb through ball sent Depay clear but he left himself too much to do from the angle. Gavi then tried and failed to lob Aitor Fernandez.

Levante was a generous opponent, allowing Barcelona space to dictate through the midfield while never really threatening a comeback.

Nico lashed wide from the edge of the box and Depay was denied again from the angle before substitute Riqui Puig almost completed a weaving run but overran his final touch.

Puig, a popular graduate of Barca's La Masia academy, had enjoyed an enthusiastic reception from the home fans but it was nothing compared to Fati's welcome, the teenager unable to hold back a grin as he heard the cheers.

The grin soon grew wider, a winding run through midfield accompanied by the perfect finish, a low shot into the corner.

Real Sociedad climbed to second, a point off the top of the table after it edged past Elche 1-0, thanks to a late goal from captain Mikel Oyarzabal.

Oyarzabal capitalized on a defensive error in the 81st minute to score his fifth goal in seven games this season and put La Real in touching distance of Real Madrid.

RECOMMENDED
Galatasary's Mauro Icardi during the Turkish Super Lig match against Besiktas at NEF Stadium, Istanbul, Türkiye, Nov. 5, 2022. (Getty Images Photo)

Icardi on brink of milestone ahead of Trabzonspor matchup

SÜPER-LİG
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Sep 27, 2021 12:46 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    la liga football
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    For the European Union, Cyprus is an instrument to hold Türkiye politically hostage. (Erhan Yalvaç Illustration)

    How to create a united state in Cyprus?

    CYPRUS-ISSUE
    Türkiye's main battle tank Altay is seen in this file photo, Nov. 15, 2012. (Photo by Mesut Er)

    Türkiye inks $200M deal with S.Korean firm for parts of MBT Altay

    altay-tank

    Religion not included in NATO deal with Türkiye: Swedish FM

    TÜRKIYE-SWEDEN-RELATIONS

    Türkiye brands consulate closures 'psychological war'

    CONSULATES
    Hagia Sophia
    Top 10 historical places to visit in Istanbul
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021