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Following two and a half years in exile, Barcelona triumphantly defeated Athletic Bilbao on Saturday to share the top spot in La Liga.

The Spanish champions had intended to reopen the stadium a year ago, but construction problems forced them to wait until afterward.

Robert Lewandowski gave the opener with a brace, and Ferran Torres added a pair. Oihan Sancet was sent off in the second half, but Fermin Lopez also struck in a consoling victory over Athletic.

Real Madrid and Hansi Flick’s side both won the match at the top of the table. On Sunday, Los Blancos travel to Elche.

More than 45 000 fans filled the three stands that had been opened before and after the game, which Barca did.

Despite exorbitant costs, the game was essentially sold out. By 2026, Barcelona hopes to have a capacity of 105, 000 for the entire season.

After the goalkeeper had missed the previous nine games with injuries, Flick was able to name Joan Garcia. Garcia assisted the team in maintaining its first consecutive clean sheets since September.

Fans were able to celebrate the team’s first goal at the new stadium after much longer than anticipated upon their return to Camp Nou.

In the fourth minute, veteran striker Lewandowski, sporting the captain’s armband, opened the scoring.

Lewandowski beat Unai Simon with a powerful low strike from Eric Garcia, who was playing in midfield in place of Frenkie de Jong, who was suspended.

Lewandowski scored his eighth league goal of his injury-hit, stop-start season by holding the ball out when the Basque goalkeeper had a hand to it and should have kept it out.

Lionel Messi, a legendary player from Barca, made an impromptu visit to the newly renovated stadium a few weeks ago, and the crowd sang his name in the 10th minute, noting Barca’s glittering past as they ushered in a new era.

The away fans also made it clear that they had no intention of forgetting Nico Williams’ decision to leave for Spain and that they would continue to whistle Spain forward whenever they could.

Barca almost had a second playing Fermin Lopez, but Simon saved his effort and fired a narrowly wide.

In the first half, former Barca coach Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic made life difficult for them at times without creating too much of a risk.

Read more about Sesko leaving for Man United for “For A Few Weeks.”

Torres at Double ,

Unai Gomez, a collegiate forward, fired over and hit a cross that Williams missed before Barca doubled their lead at half-time.

Lamine Yamal played Torres through with the outside of his boot, and Simon, who once more had a chance to keep the shot out, beat him.

The Catalan giants again struck early in the second half with a superbly executed Lopez-finishing effort from Lopez.

Athletic’s miserable afternoon got worse when Sancet, a midfielder, reprimanded after a VAR review after punching down Lopez in frustration.

On a strong back-to-back, Joan Garcia tapped Dani Vivian’s header past the line.

Raphinha, a Brazilian winger, was replaced in the second half by Flick after an injury spell. Within a few seconds of being introduced, he whipped a shot narrowly wide.

When Yamal made another superb pass to Torres, the former Manchester City forward, tucked away his second, Barca finished off a fantastic afternoon back at home.

With a shocking 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, troubled Liverpool’s miserable season came to an end.

When Murillo’s fierce strike punished their inability to deal with Elliot Anderson’s corner in the 33rd minute, the spluttering champions fell behind.

Arne Slot, the manager of Reds, was upset that the goal was allowed despite Forest’s Dan Ndoye appearing to block Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, which caused Virgil van Dijk’s penalty to be disallowed before the international break.

After 46 minutes, Nicolo Savona slotted home from Neco Williams’ cut-back, giving Sean Dyche’s side doubled their lead.

Morgan Gibbs-White scored Forest’s third goal from the rebound after Omari Hutchinson’s shot was saved in the 78th minute due to the disorganized defense at Liverpool.

Read more about Sesko leaving for Man United for “For A Few Weeks.”

Liverpool have lost eight of their last eleven games in all competitions, including six of their final seven in the top flight, after being defeated by Forest for the second time in a row at Anfield.

For the first time in a three-goal run since 1965, Liverpool has lost three straight league games.

Slot acknowledged on Friday that Diogo Jota’s tragic passing in a July crash in Spain left Liverpool’s players with no longer-moving injuries.

In yet another lethargic display, they were again devoid of inspiration and enthusiasm, leaving them eight points adrift in 11th place, eight points behind Arsenal.

Following a spending spree of over $400 million ($523 million) this summer, Liverpool’s stunning decline comes as a result.

Following a record-breaking move from Newcastle that didn’t live up to the hype, Alexander Isak was demoted in the second half of his fourth league start for Liverpool.

Isak, a striker from Sweden, has not yet scored for the Reds in the top flight.

Chelsea stepped up their Premier League title challenge with a gritty 2-0 win against struggling Burnley on Saturday.

Pedro Neto put the Blues ahead just before the interval at Turf Moor and Enzo Fernandez netted in the closing stages.

Enzo Maresca’s side climb to second place and sit three points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Tottenham on Sunday.

The Blues have won eight of their last 10 matches in all competitions, making it a memorable 50th Premier League game in charge for Maresca.

It was the ideal warm-up for Chelsea ahead of a crucial week featuring home games against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday and Arsenal in the Premier League on November 30.

The west Londoners would drop back down to third place if Manchester City avoid defeat against Newcastle later on Saturday, but regardless of that result, their hard-fought victory in freezing Lancashire added to their title momentum.

Fourth-bottom Burnley have now lost five of their last seven league matches.

Chelsea were without Cole Palmer after the England forward extended his prolonged injury absence by fracturing his toe after stubbing it into a door.

Palmer had been set to resume training this week after two months out with a groin problem.

Adding to Maresca’s issues, fatigued Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo was left on the bench after arriving back from international duty on Thursday.

Maresca had complained about Chelsea being given the early Saturday kick-off again.

His mood wasn’t improved in the fifth minute when Blues goalkeeper Robert Sanchez accidently booted the ball into Fernandez’s head, a miscue that left the Argentine midfielder needing a brief concussion check.

Fernandez was able to play on and despite that painful interlude, Chelsea eventually took control.

READ ALSO: Palmer To Miss Three More Chelsea Games After Toe Break

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Neto’s effort from the edge of the area deflected wide before Jamie Gittens lashed over from a tight angle.

Kyle Walker bailed out Burnley on his 400th Premier League appearance with a last-ditch block to stop Gittens tapping in Neto’s cross.

Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah was fortunate not to concede a farcical penalty when the defender used his hand to stop Sanchez’s pass inside his own area before returning the ball to the ‘ keeper.

Sanchez appeared not to have restarted play, instead letting Chalobah take the goal-kick so Burnley’s hopes of a penalty were dashed.

Maresca’s men made the most of that let-off to take the lead with a well-crafted goal in the 37th minute.

Marc Cucurella showed a deft touch to control a high ball into the Burnley area before passing back to Gittens.

Lofting a pin-point cross to the far post, Gittens picked out Neto and he delivered with a superb diving header into the far corner.

Neto’s fourth goal this season was almost followed by another for Chelsea as Liam Delap’s drive forced a save from Martin Dubravka.

Gittens ‘ deflected strike flashed just wide early in the second half.

Neto, picked out by Fernandez’s pass, was inches away from doubling Chelsea’s lead as his fierce blast cannoned into the near post.

Unmarked inside the Chelsea area, Zian Flemming wasted Burnley’s best opportunity to snatch an equaliser with a wild shot that cleared the bar.

But Fernandez put the result beyond doubt in the 88th minute, capping a flowing move with a clinical close-range finish from Marc Guiu’s pass.

Manager Ruben Amorim announced on Friday that Benjamin Sesko will be out of action “for a few weeks” because he injured his knee before the international break.

The Slovenian international, who moved to United from RB Leipzig for £74 million ($97 million) in August, was injured in the team’s 2-2 draw at Tottenham on November 8 and did not make the World Cup qualifying squad.

Amorim initially said the knee-related issue was “more concerning,” but the United boss is confident that the 22-year-old has avoided a protracted layoff.

At his pre-game press conference on Monday, Amorim stated, “He is going to stay out for a few weeks, I don’t know how long, but it is not that serious.”

He will recover, he is making a recovery, and he is feeling better, according to the statement, “We have to be careful with him.” So I’m hoping to have Ben (Sesko) in a few weeks.

Sesko will start playing for Morocco’s Lessair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Amad Diallo, who will travel to the Africa Cup of Nations, which will start in Morocco on December 21. Amorim predicted Sesko would arrive around the same time.

When their release date will be discussed.

“We are doing our job, but it’s not just in our hands,” Amorim said.

“We must respect that, but we will make every effort to defend the club, the player, and the national team.”

As he approached the anniversary of his first game as United manager, which was against Ipswich on November 24, last year, the Portuguese was asked how he felt.

He said, “I already knew that we will struggle with some things.” However, it was the impression that “it’s the best league in the world.”

It’s “perhaps the world’s best club.” But it’s also a big job that will demand a lot of effort.

After a difficult 2024/25 season, when United finished 15th in the Premier League, Amorim claimed United were making progress.

We had a lot of pain last year, so we must take that into account and play every game like the last or the first one, he said.

“But of course, if you ask me, I want a team that has more control, more dominance, better football, and, most importantly, more competitive in every way,” I say.

After the Spurs drew with Harry Maguire, United will also be without the defender.

Kobbie Mainoo could start for David Moyes’ side, and Lisandro Martinez is preparing to make another comeback after spending time with the Argentina camp.

Despite drawing their previous two games against Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, United are seventh in the Premier League and have won five of their last five games.