There are different paths to beating your opponent in a football match. You can outrun them, and you can outmuscle them. You can out-will them, and you can outwit them. All of the above are probably more satisfying to a coach whose job is to prepare, condition and motivate his players. After all, it shows they’ve done their job well.

From a neutral’s perspective, the most pleasing is when the margin between defeat and victory is down to technique (maybe with a smattering of smarts and a dollop…

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BARCELONA – Marc-Andre ter Stegen said Barcelona striker Luis Suarez ”shut a lot of mouths” with his match-winning performance against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Suarez, 32, scored twice in the second half as Barca came from behind to beat the Serie A leaders 2-1 at Camp Nou en route to their first win in Europe this season following a goalless draw with Borussia Dortmund last time out.
The Uruguayan’s brace came just a week after he was jeered by his own supporters…

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With Lionel Messi set to miss more games with a groin injury, the FC crew question if Ernesto Valverde can turn Barca’s fortunes around.

Craig Burley says Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde’s struggles can only get worse if Lionel Messi’s injury against Villarreal sidelines the star man.
Luis Suarez and Junior Firpo were on target as Barcelona beat Getafe 2-0 on Saturday to pick up their first away win of the season.
Suarez opened the scoring in the first half thanks to good work from goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Summer signing Junior Firpo then added the second after the break with his first goal of the campaign, tapping home after David Soria had saved from Carles Perez.
Clement Lenglet was sent off late on for picking up two yellow cards as Barca held on to the three points…

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Craig Burley says Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde’s struggles can only get worse if Lionel Messi’s injury against Villarreal sidelines the star man.

Julien Laurens questions where new Barcelona signing Antoine Griezmann can fit in alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the team’s formation.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi says hard work and a desire for more titles has given him longevity at the top after winning best men’s player at FIFA’s The Best awards.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique blamed the club’s preseason trips to the United States and Japan for their shaky start to the season.
The Catalans narrowly beat Villarreal 2-1 on Tuesday to provisionally move up to fourth in La Liga with 10 points from six games.
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– When does the transfer window reopen?
Barcelona have not won away from home all season and failed to keep a clean sheet in the league.
ESPN Luck Index

ESPN’s Luck Index: Man City, Aguero unlucky? Man United lucky?

Marcotti: Luck Index 2019 lessons

“We have not been able to train a lot, we have had too many trips…

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Gab Marcotti says Barcelona’s midfield still needs to be figured out, but it’s not time for Barca to panic just yet.
Luis Suarez says Barcelona are anticipating a “long and complicated” season after their “worrying” loss to newly promoted Granada on Saturday.
Granada moved to the top of La Liga thanks to the result, with goals from Ramon Azeez and Alvaro Vadillo in each half helping them seal a 2-0 win at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes.

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– When does the transfer window reopen?

For the Blaugrana, it represented their second defeat in the league away from Camp Nou this season….

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Former french international Frank Leboeuf joins ESPN FC to give his thoughts on the Neymar transfer saga that continues to drag on between Barcelona and PSG.

The ESPN FC panel break down Group F and talk whether Inter or Borussia Dortmund would be able to knock Barcelona out of the group stage.

As the Neymar transfer saga continues to wrangle, ESPN FC’s Alejandro Moreno thinks a compromise needs to be made as soon as possible.

Gab Marcotti says it would take “divine intervention” for PSG to sell Neymar to Barcelona before the transfer window closes.
Ansu Fati’s goal in Barcelona’s draw at Osasuna on Saturday saw him become the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer in La Liga.
The teenage forward opened his account for the club in Pamplona just five minutes after coming on as a substitute. He got across his marker to head home and make it 1-1, with the game eventually ending 2-2.
– Champions League group stage: All you need to know
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– All major completed transfer deals
Aged 16 years and 304 days, his goal sees him…

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New Barcelona signing Antoine Griezmann likens Lionel Messi to LeBron James, calling the two stars “the image” of their respective sports.

Antoine Griezmann discusses what it will be like to play with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and teases a brand new celebration for his first Barcelona goal.

Ivan Rakitic struck a long range effort to give Barcelona a 92nd minute consolation against Chelsea.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp tells ESPN FC’s Melissa Reddy that re-signing Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona would take “big, big money” and “it’s not our year for that.” Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were back in Barcelona on Friday and the two are confirmed to travel, along with Arturo Vidal, Philippe Coutinho and Arthur Melo to the United States on Aug. 5 for matches against Italian side Napoli in Miami on Aug. 7 and Detroit on Aug. 10
All five South American players were part of their respective Copa America teams and were allotted holiday, but Suarez and Messi cut their vacations short by five days to return Barcelona on Friday.
– When does the 2019-20 La Liga…

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To watch the 2019 Copa America, sign up for ESPN+.
The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to bring you all the weirdest stories, quirkiest viral content and top trolling that the internet has to offer, all in one place.
Jump to: There’s only two Adama Traores
It’s fair to say that Luis Suarez had an eventful night as Uruguay faced Chile in the Copa America on Monday (watch the tournament live on ESPN+).
The Group C match at Rio de Janeiro’s world-famous Maracana stadium was played on the five-year anniversary of Suarez’s equally iconic nibble on Italy…

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