News

Before half-time for a late lunge on Yamal, Villarreal’s Renato Veiga was sent off for a late penalty that Brazil international Raphinha won and converted on Sunday.

As Hansi Flick’s side regained their lead over Real Madrid, who are second, and won their eighth straight league game, the 18-year-old slotted home Barca’s second midway through the second half.

After winning 3-0 at Girona earlier in the match, Atletico Madrid moved ahead of Villarreal to finish fourth.

After being excluded from FIFA’s “Best” team of the year earlier in the week, Flick launched into an emotional defense of Raphinha on Saturday, prompting the winger’s remorsel against his coach.

After La Liga’s plans to bring this game to the United States were scrapped in October, Raphinha produced an all-action display at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica, where the match was played instead of Miami.

Barca struggled in their build-up play and struggled defensively, but Raphinha and Yamal’s wingers Raphinha and Yamal’s outstanding performance and their goalkeeper Joan Garcia’s outstanding performance made the game entertaining.

Ayoze Perez’s shot was blocked by Jules Kounde, who then turned the ball over to Raphinha, who then netted a penalty.

The winger delivered it with assurance and nearly added the second with a superb effort that slammed back off the bar.

Villarreal fought back when Kounde deflected a cross into his own net, but offside in the build-up prevented the goal.

After Villarreal’s error caused an error by Alejandro Balde, Barca stopper Joan Garcia saved Tajon Buchanan.

Veiga’s needless red card for a late, ugly lunge on Yamal before the break made the visitors’ job easier.

After a frantic exchange in the box, the champions scored after 63 minutes when Frenkie de Jong scored the winning goal.

In their final three games, covering all competitions, Barca finished 2026 with three points and a third clean sheet thanks to Joan Garcia’s stunning saves against Rafa Marin and Georges Mikautadze.

Following Andreas Christensen’s diagnosis with a partially torn knee ligament, Kounde went off hurt before the end, which could add to Flick’s back issues.

Barca come into the year stronger than their Spanish rivals Real Madrid, who defeated Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday, but they still have plenty of issues to worry about.

De Jong, the Barcelona captain, stated that his team has accomplished their goal of winning the league and will rest before the league’s first-ever meeting in early January.

“Villarreal have some excellent players up front, and they are very quick on the counter.” He said, “We could have been a little better. We need to organize ourselves a little better.”

“But I thought our performance on the pitch was better than we did. Although we deserved to win, I don’t think it’s all right.

Dani Parejo, the captain of Villarreal, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance despite conceding the penalty.

He claimed that “we had a lot of really good chances,” and that “we could have scored more goals at halftime.”

Israeli arms companies generated record-breaking profits last year as some of their products were “battle-tested” after participating in Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel’s defense exports increased by 13% in 2024 from the previous year, reaching a record of almost $15 billion, dominated by missiles, rockets, and air defense systems, according to a statement released in June.

In 2024, more than half of the deliveries were made by European military units, while India was the only exporter. Other shipments were made in Asia-Pacific.

One of the top ten nations in the world exports arms, Israel.

Israel is currently facing allegations of genocide in a case brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes.

The author of The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World, Antony Loewenstein, told Al Jazeera, “Israel sells the idea of getting away with it.”

That appeals to many other countries, according to the statement.

Israeli arms trade specialist Shir Hever claimed that countries that import Israeli weapons are aware of their “illegal” behavior.

Hever stated to Al Jazeera, “Buyers are aware that a genocide is occurring, and third countries are required by law to not trade with nations that are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

Palestinians in Gaza who have survived the war recount attacks that have claimed the lives of their loved ones as Israeli weapons companies increase their revenues.

Kareem al-Birawi claimed that last year, his mother and three siblings were killed in a quadcopter attack at Jabalia’s Osama Ben Zaid School.

The drone entered the room, I saw. He claimed that there was a red flash before smoke emerged.

“After that, there was fire and an explosion.” My mother and aunt screamed. Then they all sat still.

We are constantly being watched.

Israeli weapons exports include facial recognition technology, which is widely used in Gaza and is used in hundreds of locations in the occupied West Bank.

When released from prison in December of this year, Palestinian detainee Ahmad Lubbad was detained and learned how closely Israel was being watched.

He claimed to Al Jazeera that Israeli soldiers had access to his wife’s phone number, both of his new and old addresses, as well as the names of his neighbors and those with whom he collaborated.

“I’m convinced that we are watched every second,” I said after the interrogation. Fully exposed, Lubbad claimed.

Exports increased by 54% from 36% in 2023 to 54% of the total, according to Israel’s Ministry of Defense’s report from June. Asia Pacific surpassed Europe by 23% and the United States by 9%.