Shaka Hislop’s power rankings are back and while Tottenham may have fallen out of his top 10, there’s an all too familiar face atop his rankings.

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi says the club’s new shirt deal adds to their financial resolve, and that he’s ‘not worried’ about Financial Fair Play.

The crew weigh up Neymar’s level after he fell outside the top 10 in ESPN Brazil’s poll of greatest post-Pele players for the Selecao.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says Ousmane Dembele is a better player than Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, who he was signed to replace in 2017.
Neymar moved to PSG for his €222 million release clause, with Barca using that cash to fund a €105m deal for Dembele from Dortmund, but his first season was blighted by injuries. He has done well this year, scoring 13 goals and setting up eight more in 33 appearances but talk of Neymar returning to Camp Nou remains.
– ESPN Brasil…

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Alexis Nunes and Paul Mariner sift through the more notable fixtures in La Liga this weekend, including Atletico Madrid’s clash with Real Madrid.

Real Madrid’s Santiago Solari insists his side are not the favourites to reach the Copa del Rey final after their 1-1 draw in the first leg with Barcelona.

The FC panel speculate if the pressure has gotten to Philippe Coutinho, or if he can recover the confidence needed to make an impact at Barcelona.

Alejandro Moreno says Real Madrid may live to regret not capitalising on numerous chances against Barcelona when Lionel Messi was on the bench.
Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele have both passed fitness tests and been named in Barcelona’s squad for Sunday’s game against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.
Messi, who only played the final 30 minutes of Wednesday’s draw against Real Madrid, has been included despite an ongoing thigh problem. Dembele, meanwhile, returns following three weeks on the sidelines with an ankle sprain picked up in the win over Leganes last month.

Barca boss Ernesto Valverde said Messi will start against Athletic if he…

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BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona have confirmed that Ousmane Dembele sprained his ankle in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Leganes and that the forward will undergo tests on Monday to determine the severity of the injury.
Dembele opened the scoring against Leganes and produced one his best performances in a Barca shirt before being forced off midway through the second half. The France international collapsed on the ground under minimal pressure, provoking immediate concern among the home supporters. He eventually…

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Barcelona put on a show for the fans at the Camp Nou, as Lionel Messi secured the home victory with a beautiful strike with his right foot. BARCELONA, Spain — Barcelona have confirmed that Ousmane Dembele sprained his ankle in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Leganes and that the forward will be sidelined for around two weeks with the injury.
Dembele opened the scoring against Leganes and produced one of his best performances in a Barca shirt before being forced off midway through the second half. The France international collapsed on the ground under minimal pressure, provoking immediate concern among the home supporters. He eventually got up…

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Ousmane Dembele was electrifying in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Leganes on Sunday.

BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi came off the bench to score one and create another as Barcelona beat Leganes 3-1 at Camp Nou on Sunday to restore their five-point lead at the top of La Liga.

Ousmane Dembele — who was later forced off with an ankle injury — gave Barca the lead in the first half, but the visitors equalised after the break through Martin Braithwaite. Barca edged back ahead when substitute Messi’s shot was too hot for Ivan Cuellar to handle, with Luis Suarez firing in the rebound…

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Ousmane Dembele scores one of his two goals in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey win against Levante.
BARCELONA, Spain — Ousmane Dembele scored twice as Barcelona beat Levante 3-0 to progress to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey, advancing 4-2 on aggregate after last week’s surprise defeat in Valencia.

Dembele, twice assisted by Lionel Messi, moved Barca ahead in the tie with two fortuitous finishes in the first half. Messi added Barca’s third after the break as the Catalans continued their bid for a fifth successive Spanish cup success.

Positives

Ernesto Valverde could not have hoped…

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With Mesut Ozil reportedly missing out on Arsenal’s trip to Liverpool, the FC crew assess his future at the club and the issue his wages present.

Chelsea’s Maurizio Sarri admitted the club need to make a decision on Eden Hazard’s future and that he is only focused on talking to the player about his positioning on the pitch.

With reports Chelsea have bid for over €50 million Christian Pulisic, Craig Burley isn’t sure it’s the right move for the young American.
Generally, the new year brings hope and the promise of better days, but for these 11 stars, 2019 represents a crossroads of sorts. What does their future hold?
Mesut Ozil (MF, Arsenal)
Where does he stand? The year 2018 started so well for Ozil, with Arsenal surprisingly handing the German a lucrative contract extension until June 2021. But the year has ended badly, with Gunners coach Unai Emery repeatedly overlooking him. The low point was being left out of the squad for the Carabao Cup defeat…

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Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi both found the net for Barcelona who enjoyed a comfortable win at the Camp Nou.

Jordi Alba was Barcelona’s best against Celta Vigo, producing a sublime assist for Barca’s second.
BARCELONA, Spain — Goals from Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi helped Barcelona end the calendar year with a comfortable 2-0 win over Celta Vigo at Camp Nou.

Dembele opened the scoring early in the first half from close range before Messi added the second just before the break after a brilliant pass from Jordi Alba. The win restored Barca’s three-point lead at the top of La Liga going into the winter break.

Positives
In Messi and Dembele (and Suarez), Barca have the league’s best attack. No…

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ESPN FC’s Shaka Hislop reveals his latest power rankings which see Barcelona edge Liverpool for the pole position.

Shaka Hislop’s take on Ousmane Dembele is that his reliance on and preference for his childhood friends is part of the culture growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood.

Alejandro Moreno and Alexis Nunes take a look at this weekend’s upcoming fixtures in La Liga.

Through the Barca Foundation, FC Barcelona are changing the rules to make sure no child gets left offside.
Ernesto Valverde said it’s not a problem finding room for both Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho as he finds ways to fit Barcelona’s two most expensive signings into the same side.
The two were both regulars at the start of the season, but Valverde has preferred to use either one or the other since bringing midfielder Arthur Melo into the team against Tottenham in October.
Dembele was initially the player to drop out of the side, but it was Coutinho who lost his place for last week’s derby win…

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Shaka Hislop’s take on Ousmane Dembele is that his reliance on and preference for his childhood friends is part of the culture growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood.

The FC crew feel recent statements by Barcelona players about Ousmane Dembele are an effort to help him regain focus and form at the club.
BERLIN — Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele has been sentenced to pay €20,725 by Dortmund’s district court through judgement by default after failing to react to a civil suit.
Dembele left Borussia Dortmund in August 2017 as he forced through his €105 million transfer to the Camp Nou, and never returned to his former house in Germany.
Last month, the 21-year-old was served a civil suit by Dortmund’s district court, where his former landlord has sued him. The total claims totalled €20,725,…

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